Traditional therapeutic services complement the expressive arts therapies, offering a comprehensive approach to healing and emotional well-being.

These services are grounded in evidence-based practices and are designed to provide individuals with the tools, strategies, and support necessary for processing trauma, managing emotions, and fostering personal growth.

Key Traditional Therapeutic Services at Shine a Light in the Dark:

Individual Counseling:

- One-on-one therapy sessions where clients work directly with licensed counselors or therapists to explore personal challenges, trauma, anxiety, depression, or life transitions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Focuses on helping clients identify and change negative thought patterns and behaviors that contribute to emotional distress.

Trauma-Focused Therapy: Specializes in helping clients process and recover from traumatic experiences, often through techniques like Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) or Somatic Therapy.

Person-Centered Therapy: A client-centered approach that emphasizes empathy, active listening, and unconditional positive regard, allowing clients to feel heard and understood.

Group Therapy (Non-Expressive Arts):

- Traditional group therapy sessions allow individuals to explore personal issues within a supportive community of peers facing similar challenges.

Support Groups: Focus on specific issues like trauma, grief, anxiety, or addiction, providing a space for individuals to share their experiences, gain support, and learn coping strategies from others.

Process Groups: A more open-ended form of group therapy where participants engage in discussions that explore interpersonal dynamics, personal growth, and emotional well-being.

Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT) for Trauma:

- Specifically designed for trauma survivors, CPT helps individuals understand and change how trauma has affected their thoughts and feelings. It focuses on modifying beliefs that contribute to distress and offers tools for reprocessing trauma memories.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT):

- A form of therapy that teaches clients practical skills to manage intense emotions, improve relationships, and reduce impulsive behaviors. DBT is particularly effective for individuals dealing with borderline personality disorder, trauma, or self-harming behaviors.

- **Mindfulness Practices:** Integrated into DBT, mindfulness helps clients stay present, reduce stress, and gain control over their emotional reactions.

Psychodynamic Therapy:

- This therapy explores unconscious processes and how past experiences, particularly from childhood, influence present behavior and emotional health. Through exploring these patterns, clients can gain insight into their current challenges and work toward healing.

Play Therapy (for Children):

- A therapeutic approach used with children that allows them to express their emotions and experiences through play. It is particularly effective for children who may not have the verbal skills to process their trauma or emotional distress.

Directive Play Therapy: The therapist provides specific toys or activities that help the child explore particular emotions or issues.

Non-Directive Play Therapy: The child leads the play, and the therapist observes, offering insights into the child's emotional world.

Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR):

- A therapeutic practice that helps individuals manage stress, anxiety, and emotional overwhelm through mindfulness meditation, breathing exercises, and body awareness techniques.

Guided Meditation and Relaxation Exercises: Sessions may include guided mindfulness practices designed to calm the mind and body, reduce tension, and increase emotional regulation.

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR):

- A highly effective therapy for trauma survivors, EMDR helps individuals process traumatic memories and reduce their emotional impact. The process involves recalling traumatic events while following a therapist's finger or another form of bilateral stimulation, helping the brain reprocess painful memories.

Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT):

- A goal-oriented approach that focuses on identifying solutions rather than dwelling on problems. This therapy helps clients set specific goals and develop strategies to achieve them, promoting hope and forward movement in their lives.

Integrative Therapy:

- Combines elements of various therapeutic approaches to tailor treatment to the unique needs of each individual. Counselors may blend techniques from cognitive, behavioral, humanistic, and psychodynamic therapies, depending on what works best for the client.

Key Benefits of Traditional Therapy at Shine a Light in the Dark:

Personalized Care: Therapists tailor each session to the individual’s specific needs, whether they are working through trauma, anxiety, grief, or other life challenges.

Holistic Healing: By integrating traditional therapies with expressive arts, clients receive a well-rounded therapeutic experience that addresses both emotional and psychological needs.

Trauma-Informed Approach: All therapies at Shine a Light in the Dark are trauma-informed, meaning they are designed to create safety, empowerment, and healing for individuals who have experienced trauma.

Traditional therapeutic services at Shine a Light in the Dark provide a foundation for deeper emotional exploration and healing.