June/July COME PLAY Therapy Group!

Prepare for group therapy with this low-demand, high-fun therapy group, where the expectation is just to "Come play!"

At ATS, we believe that group therapy is essential for fostering generalization of therapeutic goals. The Come Play therapy group is intended for children who are ready to move beyond the verbal relationship with their Individual Therapist and develop a verbal relationship with a Group Therapist. Therapeutic goals include habituating to anxiety with peers, decreasing social inhibitions, and increasing peer interaction.

Positive peer relationships are important for a child's social development , ego development, and identity formation. For children with selective mutism and/or social anxiety, or other anxieties, making friends can be challenging, especially if mutism is present. We offer several groups at ATS to meet the needs of children with anxiety, at different stages of treatment. This summer's Come Play group, facilitated by Theresa Gabby, LCSW, is the first step of the group therapy hierarchy at ATS.

Prerequisites

Of all the groups at ATS, Come Play Group is intended to be the "easiest" one. It is meant to serve as the introduction to groups at ATS. Once your child can verbally participate in Come Play, you will know they are ready for the next level of group exposures offered at ATS. Therefore, this group is appropriate for children who are just starting out on their group experiences at ATS. Click here for more information about group eligibility criteria and ATS' exposure hierarchy for groups.

The prerequisites are as follows:

• Able to separate from parent after a 10-min warm-up.
• Able verbalize directly with their Primary Therapist.
• Able to respond to new person (Group Therapist) after warm-up with parent.
• Able to respond to Therapist in the presence of a peer.
• Able to engage in parallel play with peers.
• Has completed peer sessions at ATS within the last 3 months (2:2 Child to Therapist ratio).

If you are not sure if your child meets these prerequisites, talk it over with your child's therapist. If it has been over three months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, then a refresher session may be necessary to reacquaint your child with ATS befor Come Play.

If it has been over 6 months since your child has been in treatment at ATS, or your child has never received treatment at ATS, and you think this group is ideal for your child's needs, please contact ATS at 630-230-6505 to set up an intake evaluation.

What to Expect

1 Preview + 5 Group Sessions = 6 Sessions

The purpose of a preview session is two-fold. First, it allows your child a chance to see what the group is about and see who else is registered before committing to the full 5 sessions of group. Secondly, it allows the clinician to assess whether or not your child is ready for this group. 

June/July Group: Wednesdays, 2pm-3pm

6/14 (preview required), 6/21, 6/28, 7/5, 7/12, 7/19

Group Agenda:

• 10-min warm-up with parents
• 45-min play activity
• 5-min debrief with parents

Fees 

Group sessions are billed at $85 per 60-minute session. Upon registering, participants will be charged for 6 sessions (1 Preview Session and 5 Group Sessions = $510). If you cancel before the Preview Session, you will be refunded for the full 6 sessions less a $25 administrative fee.

If your child attends the Preview Session and it is determined that he/she needs more therapy before participating in this level group, you will be refunded the full amount less $85 for the Preview Session and no administrative fee will be applied. To cancel, call 630-230-6505 extension 2. Insurance CPT code is 90853. Statements will be provided to those who wish to submit to their insurance for reimbursement.

Click to read HIPAA form.

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