If something traumatic has happened to your family, your child may or may not be showing signs that they were affected by what has happened. While they may appear to be doing well, be aware that as time goes on problems may develop. There may be school difficulties, acting out at home, and/or more serious problems occurring when they reach adolescence. Seeking therapy can help your child deal with what has happened and address future problems before they arise.

There are a variety of resources that can pay all or part of your therapy costs. Some medical insurance will cover therapy. Many of the therapy resources listed on this website offer low-cost or free therapy based on your income. If you or someone in your family has been the victim of a violent crime, then you can apply for the Crime Victims' Compensation Fund to cover your therapy costs.

Family Therapy
Families may go to therapy together. Together a family can find ways to improve relationships among family members and learn how to handle the stress caused by the abuse.

Adult Therapy
The most common reasons parents begin counseling are to find out how they can best help their child heal from the abuse, to learn how to deal with feelings as parents, to improve parenting skills, and to address family changes after separation or divorce. Sometimes what has happened to their child causes parents to remember some of their own past traumas.

Play therapy has been found to work well for children. Since children are not always able to talk about their thoughts and feelings, play therapy allows them to express their emotions using toys, art, and make believe. They can experiment with finding solutions, with having things turn out the way they want, and can have experiences that assist them in regaining their sense of personal power. Abuse victims often feel betrayed and a healthy, positive relationship with a skilled play therapist may help rebuild trust.

Group Therapy
Therapy groups offer participants a safe place to: 1) talk about their feelings; 2) learn more about the causes and effects of abuse; 3) learn about healthy family dynamics; 4) learn about alternative ways to deal with what has happened; and 5) receive encouragement from others who have experienced the same problems.