[kxl164]

Hi all,
Has anyone's foster child gone to play therapy? Especially any preschoolers or children who are not very verbal?

We will be talking to a play therapist today about our foster child and just wanted to get an idea of what it was all about and honestly whether or not they would take him at a young age.

I think it would help, give another outlet for emotions and teach us how to help our foster child more too.

So any thoughts, advice, or experiences with play therapy would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much,

[twinflana]

My 2 almost 3 year old is receiving play therapy. The therapist brings a bunch of different toys and how he listens and interacts is supposed to show the therapist what behavior or emotions needs work. However personally I think it is not working for him and they are going to refer him for more indepth evaluation.

[mj77]

We got our less than verbal child into Early Intervention (it's free) where they put him into a play group. It has been WONDERFUL for all of us. Please, contact your local school district and a find out how to get early intervention services, or at least an evaluation.

Our other son, we put into a preschool that was more social based. It too was great. I strongly encourage you looking into one of these options.

[kxl164]

We are getting Early Intervention for our foster child, he just qualified (due to paperwork issues) for Education Therapy to help with his congnitive skills.

He is already enrolled in a preschool for the upcoming year as well twice a week.

Play therapy was recommended for him to help acknowledge his emotions and try to find another outlet for them as well as validation.

We talked with one play therapist who said he doesn't work with children under the age of 3 and who aren't very verbal.

So we are looking around at other play therapists in our area. But wanted to see what other foster parents had to say about play therapy too.

Thanks

[ajrl]

2 of my fkids were in play therapy. It helped so much. They needed the interraction w/the therapist so that they can direct their anger somewhere else instead of hitting each other. Also they find things out like if there was sexual abuse. This happened for one of my fkids. They were doing a workbook about good touch and bad touch and what's in a bathingsuit area and one kid showed the therapist where they were touched. Which validated a conversation that was happening at our house and little comments all the time. Then from there they took the kids to an investigator and it was proven then. It doesnt always have to be sexual abuse that is found. It could jsut be a way for them to let out their own emotions on being moved from family to family or taken. My littlest one had a problem w/ police and that was also discussed the child was afraid that the police were coming to take the siblings away from us.

AJ

[kxl164]

New questions, still related to play therapy...

The SW agrees that play therapy is a good idea and allowed me to find one myself.

It will of course have to get the county's approval and approval from the health insurance.

I guess my question is that this is OK right? To find one on her own since the county will involved and we are not just doing something ourselves w/o making them aware right?

Maybe it is a stupid question that I already know the answer too, but did you find the play therapist yourself or did the county do it for you?

We are trying to get him help, but I don't want there to be an issue with the fact that it is just for him and not involving his birthfamily.

Any advice or stories on how it worked for you would be great.

Thanks,

[ajrl]

Well in my instance, our wrap around person found the therapists that our kids used. This they agreed up on w/ DFCS. My problem wasnt till May this year when funding ran out for medical expenses for the County. Then the therapists were cut off immediately. Once this happened I didnt know what to do. So about a month later I told my CW that the kids really do need therapy and how can I make this work?? She told me that as long as I got a therapist that would take medicaid then I could pick that person out. She was supposed to give me a list since I dont have any medicaid provider directories.. But of course like w/ everything else I never got it. But I am sure if you call around you can get one that will take medicaid and then you dont have to worry.

AJ

[claschober]

My oldest son started play therapy a little over a year ago. He was supposed to start it when he was three and in a previous foster home but they didn't want to deal with it, so by the time we got him into therapy he was a young 4 year old. He loves going to visit his therapist and while it is playtime she has figured out so many things about him during her short time with him. I sometimes wonder how effective it is, but then while talking to her she will say something and it will describe him and his behavior exactly! She has also helped us figure out ways to redirect our son's anger and issues that he has.

The county recommended her as she used to be a sw with them. They paid for therapy while he was in foster care, but when it came time to sign the adoption papers the payments stopped two months before finalization. The county would approve the sessions in 10 week increments and since we were to finalize w/ in those 10 weeks they wouldn't approve it. We ended up paying out of pocket and his AAP increased upon finalization to help pay for the therapy.

Hope that helps a little!

[wish41more]

we started play therapy with our fs when he was 10 months old!!! It was wonderful! Helped so much! If it wasn't for our therapist I'm afraid I probably would've given up on him and asked for him to be removed. He's still a handful but much much better.

[kxl164]

One of the therapists I contacted works with children under 3, so hopefully by next week we may have something set up for our foster child.

I really hope that this works out!

[Kate1129]

My fs was just 3 when he started play therapy. He's now just past 5 and has "graduated". It helps so much! I'd recommend it to anyone!!!!!

I found the therapist myself and asked if she was ok to use. they will either say yes or no. It's pretty simple, plus our SW was thankful I found the therapist so she didn't have to (over worked ya know)!

[kxl164]

Well, the therapist was a no go.

So far I have contacted 20.

11- No's
2- possible's
7- I haven't heard back from yet

I know I only need 1 who can work with us, but I am getting a bit dismayed by all of the No's!

I'm off to talk to the 2 possible's now.

Wish us luck!

[twinflana]

why arent the agency setting it up for you. Here in our county they have the therapist's on staff and they send the referral and the therapist's then contact you.

[kxl164]

Our county doesn't have anyone who does play therapy, only family therapy.

The SW wants our foster son to have play therapy independant of his family, therefore we can't go through the county. If things get closer to reunification and the family shows more progress on their own issues then family therapy would be helpful, but for right now he needs something just for him.

The SW would make all of the calls and set things up, but it just makes more sense for me to do it since I can aswer any questions they may have and set up a convienent time directly.

I don't mind doing it, but to be honest I do wish it were easier! It is a bit discouraging, the ones who have been recommended are full or don't work with younger children.

But we still have one possible therapist left who takes younger children and now 2 more to call.

Again, we are hopeful!!

[kxl164]

Well we found 1.

Out of 20 possible therapists, we found one who will work with a young age, accept a new patient, work with a foster child, and accept medicaid.

I haven't heard back from 2, but the rest were No's due to any of the factors listed above.

I am just so relieved to have one, yesterday when it was down to only 3 possible therapists I was getting worried.