“We’ve tried so many things, and nothing seems to work. What are we missing?”
“It’s so hard to see my child so overwhelmed with emotions. How can I help them cope with their feelings?”
“We need more help, but resources are scarce. What options are available to us, and how can we access the support we need?”
“How can we manage these behaviors and create a more positive environment at home?
“Is there a more specialized and intensive approach that could be more effective for our child?”
“I’m so tired and overwhelmed. Are there resources or support systems that can help alleviate some of the stress?”
“I’m worried about my child falling behind in school. Are there underlying mental health issues affecting their academic performance?
“I’m frustrated that we’re not seeing the progress in therapy that we had hoped for?”
“Why is my child behaving this way?”
Do these sound familiar?
Yes? So what now?
Momentum.
What?
A boost forward. Momentum is the inertia in motion, a force that keeps an object in motion. We see that momentum is a powerful tool in therapy.
In our office, our SPARK program provides momentum in your child mental health well-being. For those who feel overwhelmed, stuck or unsure of next steps, we encourage you to look into our SPARK program. The extended session times allows for deeper therapeutic work and powerful transformation! Our program is designed to provide our child clients with a more immersive and concentrated therapeutic experience, to fuel the momentum.
What is the significance of momentum in mental health? Momentum contributes to a more positive outlook and positive feedback loop. It might be a long time since families experienced a sense of calmness, understanding and hope. Families facing overwhelming challenges can feel a sense of hope and optimism when you witness the positive effects of treatment and the gradual improvement in your situation.
Benefits of creating momentum:
- Motivation and Engagement: Momentum provides you, your child, and your family with the motivation to actively engage in the treatment process. When you see progress and positive changes, it reinforces your commitment to improving the situation your family is in. No one wants to be stuck in the muck of feeling disengaged.
- Sense of Control: Overwhelmed families often feel a lack of control. Momentum in mental health treatment empowers you, your child, and your family by instilling a sense of control over your circumstances. Achieving small milestones can be empowering and help you regain a sense of agency. Who doesn’t like a little boost each week?
- Incremental Progress: Treatment momentum is built on incremental progress. Breaking down larger goals into smaller, achievable steps allows you, your child, and your family to witness tangible improvements, making the overall journey more manageable.
- Reinforcement of Coping Skills: As you, your child, and your family experience success in treatment, you reinforce and build upon the coping skills you are learning. This not only addresses immediate challenges but equips you with tools for future resilience. Thease coping skills will allow your family to step down to weekly 1:1 therapy in a healthier space.
- Improved Communication with Professionals:As you, your child, and your family experience positive momentum, communication with treatment professionals tends to improve. Open and effective communication is crucial for tailoring interventions to your family’s evolving needs. We start the process with our dashboard and Friday calls, but this can be continued by after exiting the program, you can build your own communication rhythm.
Ultimately, creating momentum in treatment contributes to the overall well-being of your family. It improves your child’s quality of daily life, helps your child overcome obstacles, and supports their journey toward positive and lasting change.
Okay, so, you’re on board with knowing you need that momentum in your family? Your next question might be, how will our SPARK program help support your family in creating this boost, this momentum forward?
Let’s break it down:
Engagement: When the SPARK program begins with energy and forward movement, it captures your child’s interest and encourages active participation. Our child therapists are experts at creating an environment that engages children through play, a natural and enjoyable medium for them. This engagement isn’t just about having fun; it’s a powerful force that motivates your child and encourages their active involvement in the therapeutic process.
Faster Progress: Our child-centric approach within the SPARK program is designed to accelerate progress. Child therapists within our program are skilled at adapting interventions to your child’s unique needs. This adaptability facilitates your child’s ability to express themselves in their own developmental space, making progress at a pace that suits them best.
Communication: One significant piece of the puzzle is communication. In the SPARK program, effective communication is at the core of what we do. Child therapists work with your child to help them express their thoughts and feelings in a way that feels comfortable to them. This not only enhances their ability to communicate within the therapeutic setting but also provides them with valuable skills for expressing themselves in various aspects of their life.
The SPARK program is designed to ignite and sustain momentum in your family’s therapeutic journey. From engaging activities and faster progress to effective communication and a positive atmosphere, our child therapists are here to support your child and family every step of the way. Overall we see enhanced morale, countinous improvement, positive feedback loop, Ultimately, creating momentum in SPARK enhances its overall impact and outcomes. The positive energy generated by momentum translates into tangible results.
In the dance of progress,every step sparks momentum for brighter tomorrows.
A story about the power of momentum, in the healing process. (The details presented here are fictional, crafted solely for illustrative purposes)
The Thompson family, consisting of parents Mark and Sarah, and their 8-year-old son Alex, found themselves in the midst of a crisis. Alex, a bright and energetic child, began exhibiting signs of increased anxiety and difficulty coping with his big emotions. Mark and Sarah, both working professionals, were concerned as Alex’s behavior impacted his school performance and family relationships. It was getting harder and harder to balance his needs and their work schedules due to his meltdowns. The school meetings, daily phone calls home, getting kicked out of before/after school care were getting to be too much.
The Crisis: Alex’s anxiety manifested as school refusal, tearful outbursts, and withdrawal from social activities with his peers. The family was navigating the challenges of understanding and addressing Alex’s emotional struggles while trying to maintain a sense of normalcy in their daily lives. They needed support and guidance to help Alex thrive emotionally and academically. They had been working with a family therapist for 6 months and haven’t been making progress. While he was hurting himself during his meltdowns, he did not meet the critera for admission at local hosptial in-patient programs.
Enter the SPARK Program: Upon discovering the SPARK program, Mark and Sarah were intrigued by the various components. They appreciated that the program recognized the balance of supporting the child, but also the importance of family dynamics. Every piece of the program was intentional. One small part in particular, they loved that the program had a hard stop at 5pm, so that they could enjoy dinner together.
Alex began the program with a comprehensive psychosocial assessment, rating scales to determine a baseline, and a treatment plan tailored to his individual needs and family dynamics. The family also appreciated that during this time, they also developed a crisis plan for both home & school. SPARK provided child sessions as well as support for parents and caregivers. Alex noticed right away that it was different than seeing his 1:1 counselor. By the end of the first week, he was asking to attend every day, and was disappointed when the program did not run 7 days a week!
The Journey of Healing: As the Thompsons progressed through the SPARK program, they experienced significant positive changes. Alex learned coping strategies to manage his anxiety, and the family gained a deeper understanding of how to support him. The therapists also consulted and worked collaboratively with the school, providing resources and guidance to create a supportive environment. The Thompsons appreciated that the SPARK therapists communicated with Alex’s 1:1 therapist, and ensured she had access to his progress each week.
SPARK sessions became a space for growth. The SPARK program not only addressed Alex’s immediate challenges but also equipped the Thompsons with tools to navigate future obstacles. The inclusion of neuroscience-based interventions helped demystify the reasons behind Alex’s struggles, empowering the family with knowledge.
Transformation and Empowerment: Over time, Alex’s confidence grew, and he began to express his needs in healtheir ways, and there were less outbursts at home Thompsons noticed improvements in his school attendance, academic performance, and overall emotional well-being. They became advocates for the SPARK program, sharing their journey with other families in similar situations.
The SPARK program, with its comprehensive approach, played a pivotal role in the Thompson family’s journey from crisis to healing. It not only addressed the immediate concerns but also provided the family with the knowledge and support needed to build a resilient and thriving future.They credit the momentum to their longer term success.