We understand you have been getting a lot of information. Here we will try to make it easier. What you need to ensure for Teletherapy: A safe and quiet space for counseling Attempts to avoid interruption If you or your child need to take care of yourself (water, food, or potty), please leave the device as is to do this. No phones or computers need to follow you around, since this will upset the continuity of the counseling session. Try to find a space that is comfortable: a comfy chair, bean bag, space on the floor For our play therapy clients, we will ask that parents and caregivers lay a blanket out on the floor and set the toys up around the blanket. For your child's confidentiality, we ask that you leave the room, just like you would at our office. This is a new experience for all of us. We will be patient with each other as we learn! For anyone working with our clinicians, the online platform we chose to use is HIPAA-compliant program Doxy. Each clinician will have their own virtual waiting room. For Dr. Carlson, use the link: https://mightyoaks.doxy.me/ Lauren: https://doxy.me/87 Maryam: https://doxy.me/maryammmunis If you know someone is struggling during all of this, please send them our way. If they can’t afford counseling, we have up gift cards for purchase. You can also purchase gift cards to help current clients and Mighty Oaks. Our economy my look different for a while, and want to make sure counseling services are accessible to those that need it. Here is the link for gift cards: https://squareup.com/gift/CJKXNRQJTWSEG/order Please continue to follow us on Instagram and Facebook, please go over and do that now. Dr. Carlson be sharing coping skills and strategies during this unknown time. We also encourage you to tell others who are not on our mailing list. Dr. Carlson will be able to be more in-depth in her suggestions during the unknown time ahead. While what is ahead of us in new, trust that your emotional and mental health is our top priority. Please let Dr. Carlson know if you have questions. 469.844.0625 or mightyoakscounseling@gmail.com
What does this look like for play therapy? We will ask you to create a home "playroom". Please see Dr. Carlson's photos on how this will look. You can see, she has laid out her blanket and put the toys around. Also, notice, it is not everything from the list we have below. Pick a few items from each category. *We highly recommend a stethoscope and bandaids, as children may need to process people being sick during this time. Stethoscopes can be purchased on Amazon.*Real-Life Toys (also promote imaginative play) Baby doll Nursing bottle Doctor kit (with stethoscope): add three Band-Aids for each session (add disposable gloves/Ace bandage, if you have) Phones Doll family: bendable mother, father, brother, sister, baby, and so forth (ethnically representative) Play money Couple of domestic and wild animals Car/Truck: one to two small ones (could make specific to child’s needs, e.g., an ambulance) Kitchen dishes: couple of plastic dishes, cups, and eating utensils Optional Puppets: one aggressive, one gentle; can be homemade or purchased (animal shaped cooking mittens, etc.) Dress up: hand mirror, bandana, scarf; small items you already have around the house
Acting-Out Aggressive Toys (also promote imaginative play) Dart guns with a couple of darts and a target: parent needs to know how to operate Rope: prefer soft rope (can cut the ends off jump rope) Aggressive animal: (e.g., snake, shark, lion, dinosaurs—strongly suggest hollow shark!) Small toy soldiers (12–15): two different colors to specify two teams or good guys/bad guys Inflatable punching bag - OR pillow with a pillow case (you can draw a face on it) Mask: Lone Ranger type Optional
Toys for Creative/Emotional Expression Playdough, crayons, white paper, construction paper Scissors: not pointed, but cut well (e.g., child Fiskars_) Transparent tape Egg carton, styrofoam cup/bowl: for destroying, breaking, or coloring Deck of playing cards Soft foam ball Two balloons per play session (if no latex allergy) Optional Selection of arts/crafts materials in a ziplock bag (e.g., colored construction paper, glue, yarn, buttons, beads, scraps of fabrics, raw noodles, etc —much of this depends on age of child) Building blocks or Legs Binoculars Tambourine, drum, or other small musical instrument Magic wand
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