Hopscotch Blog

Despite the strong research advocating for children spending more time in nature, outdoor playtime for children continues to decrease as children become less engaged with nature. While there are many understandable reasons why (concerns over safety, overcommitted schedules, etc.), children remain naturally curious about the world, and fostering this curiosity in therapy through nature play can promote their well-being in a uniquely powerful and therapeutic way.

What is nature play therapy?

Nature play therapy is the same as play therapy – just with a nature element. Play therapy is so effective because children – especially young children under the age of 13 – lack the developmental ability to talk about difficult emotions with words. Instead, they communicate their feelings and express even their most challenging thoughts through the language of play, and when nature is brought into play therapy, the effects of play therapy can be even more profound.

 
3 Reasons why nature play therapy is so effective.

“In nature, a child finds freedom, fantasy, and privacy: a place distant from the adult world, a separate peace.” Last Child in the Woods: Saving our Children from Nature Deficit Disorder by Richard Love

• Regularly engaging with nature is therapeutic.
  Nature can heal in a way nothing else can, but children are currently more removed from nature than ever before. At school, outdoor playtime and recess have been discontinued or else drastically reduced, and at home, tablets and electronics are now the primary sources of entertainment. This is partly because parents no longer feel safe or comfortable with letting children play outside without adult supervision – which is an understandable concern. Yet research indicates that an increased exposure to sunshine and fresh air is linked to higher rates of academic success and improved physical, psychological, and mental health.
• Nature encourages the best kind of play.
  Research also indicates that the more creative, explorative, sensory, and messy playtime is the better, and Mother Nature provides developing children and adolescents with the ideal environment for this exact type of play. Nature play is not as restrictive as inside play, which frequently (and reasonably) comes with a few rules. Outside, however, children and teens are free to explore and be messy. 
• Nature play promotes healthy development and overall well-being.
  Research shows that positive, consistent interactions in nature lead to developmental well-being. Specifically, emotional health, physical health, social health, motor coordination, concentration skills, creative thinking, critical thinking, conceptualization abilities, and even sleep patterns are all improved when children regularly interact with and play in nature.
• Which begs the question: How much time do children need to spend in nature?
  It seems that just 20 minutes of nature exposure a day is enough to significantly impact well-being. In fact, one study concluded that children with ADHD concentrated better after a 20 minute walk outside, and the impact of nature exposure was roughly equivalent to the impact of two common ADHD medications.
• Benefits of incorporating nature into play therapy for young children and teens.
  Nature is profoundly healing in ways that are both scientific and downright mystical, and when it comes to the ways nature can enhance play therapy, there is no shortage of benefits. 

Here are 6 ways nature can elevate therapy for children and teens. 

• Nature play encourages natural self-regulation.
  Nature engagement offers a grounded, regulating experience that encourages positive feelings and creative expression. Even if physically being in nature is not an option during therapy sessions, interacting with natural elements such as leaves, pebbles, rocks, crystals, wood, flowers, plants, and pinecones can have a powerfully calming effect. 
• Nature provides nonverbal ways to communicate.
  Nature provides non-overwhelming stimuli which provides children unique opportunities to explore their thoughts and feelings in a comfortable way.
• Nature magnifies the impact of art therapy.
  Art therapy is one of the most researched and proven therapy techniques, and when nature is incorporated into art therapy, art and nature work together in a highly synergistic way.    
• Nature play cultivates a positive relationship between the child and nature.
  Children and teens (especially those who have experienced some form of emotional, physical, or psychological trauma) can feel disconnected, misunderstood, and isolated at times. By incorporating positive nature-based therapy practices that allow them to positively connect with the world they live in, children and teens can develop a strong sense of belonging.
• Nature fosters positive self-esteem and emotional wellness.
  Children are born with an innate fascination for all things unique, different, and organic, but the modern world is becoming increasingly more cookie cutter, fabricated, filtered, and rigid. Nevertheless, nature remains defiantly and awesomely diverse. In nature, no two leaves match, and everything is uniquely special. By encouraging children to interact with nature in positive ways, you can instill in them the knowledge that they, like the beauty of nature, are naturally and exquisitely unique.
  
• Provides a calming and mindful experience for the child.
  Nature-based activities, such as painting rocks or tracing leaves, requires focus and attention to detail. Through nature activities, children can learn mindfulness and relaxation techniques that can help reduce anxiety and stress.
  

11 Ways to incorporate nature play therapy into your therapy practice.

• Create nature puppets. Nature puppets can create distance for painful emotions to be communicated and processed, and when children project their thoughts and feelings onto the nature puppet, they can learn and practice different coping skills in ways that match their developmental stage.  Hopscotch providers have access to an amazing intervention library, which includes a section on how to create nature puppets developed by Rose LaPiere, LPC, RPT-S, ACS, EMDRIA Certified Consultant.
• Design nature mandalas. Humans have been creating nature mandalas since the dawn of time. Nature mandalas are beautiful and creating them is a wonderful example of nature play that is beneficial for clients of any age. Simply collect nature elements such as rocks, petals, leaves, etc. and lay the elements out in a circular pattern.
  
• Paint rocks and/or leaves. 
• Create an art journal with nature elements. Art journaling is trending in a major way currently thanks to the meditative way it allows creators to express themselves. While this activity is great for clients of any age, it is currently very popular with creative teenagers who are working through difficult feelings and emotions.
  
  Learn more

• A guide to art journaling to support well-being

• How art journaling heals my soul
  

• Trace a leaf on paper or with a finger while taking mindful breaths.
  
• Create a nature inspired sand tray for therapy intervention. Get creative and incorporate different trays/boxes for other nature elements, such as tiny pebbles, jasmine rice, dirt, lentils, grass seeds, etc.
• Color in a nature coloring book.
  

• Play I-Spy-Nature or nature hide and seek.
  

• Plant seeds. For example, playing sunflower seeds and watching them grow over time can be a wonderful experience for a child and adolescent. Therapists can incorporate ideas about growth, change, and  nurture into those sessions. Tip: Soaking the sunflower seed in room temperature water first for at least one hour before potting will help the seed germinate successfully.
  

• Go on a nature treasure hunt in the virtual playroom or create a virtual shared screen that has nature elements.  Hopscotch providers have access to an amazing intervention library, which includes a section on how to create your Hopscotch virtual playroom developed by Dr. Rachel Altvater.
  

• Create and explore patterns with a Zen Garden. 

Planning for Teletherapy Sessions

For virtual child play therapists, you will likely need to contact parents in advance to plan accordingly.  It is advisable to communicate with parents beforehand your goals for these sessions, what it will involve, and make suitable arrangements.  You’ll want to solicit input from parents as to their comfort levels and identify appropriate spaces for incorporating natural elements into therapy sessions, such as using sand, dirt, paint, etc. . Providing some courtesy preparation reminders is also a good idea. In case something is forgotten, be prepared with a nature-themed play therapy backup plan, such as with a digital sand tray via shared screen, Play Doh, Legos, or a whiteboard.

How to encourage parent/child nature play between sessions.

As is so often the case, caregivers have tremendous power to encourage nature play in between sessions, however, be sure to respect values and limitations. Not everyone has access to safe nature areas for families, and the availability of supervision may also be a concern. Be ready to do the thinking for parents and have a list of nature play activities ready to provide them with, such as rock painting, seed growing, hiking, a nature treasure hunt, etc. Remind caregivers that nature experiences don’t need to be extravagant, and spending time together outside in a local green space or even in the backyard can be just as beneficial. 

Discover more about the power of nature play therapy, and learn how to incorporate this expression of play therapy with your clients: Nature-Based Play and Expressive Therapies: Interventions for Working with Children, Teens, and Families 1st Edition

Enjoy exclusive Hopscotch training content.

Are you part of Hopscotch’s exclusive group of child therapists? If so, be sure to watch the intervention videos mentioned in this article and located in the Hopsoctch Provider Resource Center. You’ll find the Nature Puppets intervention developed  by Rose LaPiere, LPC, RPT-S, ACS, EMDRIA, Certified Consultant and the How to Create Your Hopscotch Virtual Playroom intervention developed by Dr. Rachel Altvater.
(Go to the Provider Resource Center and search within the Intervention Library.

Not a provider with Hopscotch? Learn more about joining our community here.

As counselors, we know that fear can be one of the biggest hurdles to people getting the therapeutic support they need. The fear of stigma, of not being understood, of being labeled as “the problem,” of being judged… There is no shortage of reasons why people may be afraid of participating in therapy, which is why we as therapists strive to reassure families and help them overcome the obstacles that fear creates. We do this through the power of trust. 

How therapists convey trustworthiness to prospective clients. 

The first impression your future clients will likely have of you will be through your online presence, and whatever they discover about you online will form the foundation of their overall opinion regarding how trustworthy you are. They will be assessing whatever they find out about you online and making a personal judgment about whether or not you are the type of person they can trust with the struggles they are coping with. They will review your directory profile, Google you, look at your pictures, your personal statements, and form a conclusion as to whether or not you are someone they feel they can trust. 

This means your online presence has the power to create a sense of trust, but… is it? 

Managing your online image is important for every professional in every industry, and therapy is no exception. In fact, due to the nature of our work as child therapists, our need to be mindful of our online presence and the implications our online image might convey is paramount. The information we offer about ourselves, the glimpses into our personal lives, and the posts we share and comment on may be interpreted in any number of ways by current clients, prospective clients, and industry peers – for better or worse.

What to share online vs what not to share online? 

Admittedly, this question is very hard to answer, especially if you have a professional social media presence. Establishing the right amount of trust for a therapist-patient relationship takes the right amount of personal self-disclosure. You don’t want to overshare, but you also don’t want to share too little. As therapists, we walk a fine line between being personable and getting personal. While we don’t want to get too personal, we also don’t want to be so generic and neutral that we appear unrelatable or impersonable. We do our best work when we establish real, authentic human-to-human connections. 

As the line between professional and personal becomes increasingly blurred, how can therapists balance their professional image with their personal social media image? Because the truth is, viewers don’t see a difference. Your prospective future clients’ opinion of you as a therapist will be based on the aggregate conclusion they derive from whatever information they can source on you, which means one of the most influential factors in your reputation is your online presence. Consequently, taking the time to review and assess your online presence is an ongoing part of responsible, reputational management. 

How therapists can assess their online presence

Step 1 – Google yourself and ask the following questions.

• Are you ok with what you find? 
• Is there anything about what you find that could damage your private practice reputation? 
• Are there any false accounts in your name? 
• What public pictures, info, and records does a simple Google search pull up? 
• Do the pictures enhance or mar your professional image? 
• Overall, what does your online presence say about you, and how is it affecting your private practice?

Tip: Remember, future clients will draw conclusions about how you will work with them based on whatever they find out about you online. Statements of personal opinions and beliefs may be perceived as bias to some people. While our credentials are certainly important, prospective clients often care more about who we are as individuals rather than the credentials we have. 

Step 2 – Review all your social media profiles individually. 

Do you have one profile for both personal and professional use or separate ones for each? Either way, assess the information and photos across every single social media profile that features information about you and/or your practice, and consider the following:

• Is the information on your social media helpful to prospective clients? 
• How necessary is the information you are sharing? 

• Do you need to delete or hide any information?
• Are the pictures appropriate? Are your photos personable or too personal? Are you ok with potential clients viewing extremely personal content? What is in the background of your photos?
• What videos have you shared? What conclusions might viewers draw based on the content you share or post?
• Do you need to update your privacy settings?
• Is what you share or post helpful or unhelpful to your private practice?

Tip: Be careful sharing something that may be misconstrued. As therapists, the image you project on your social media matters. Whatever you post will likely be viewed and judged either in a helpful way or unhelpful way. If you would not want the picture, post, or comment to show up on the front page of a major newspaper, consider removing it.

Step 3 – Consider other internet spaces where information about you may be viewed.

Take a quick inventory of anywhere and everywhere your online presence extends, and then review those areas with your future clients in mind. For example…

• How many therapist directories are you listed on? Do the photos of you on your directory profiles reflect how you want to be viewed? Does the information represent your practice well?
• Do you have any active dating profiles? It’s completely possible that a future client’s Google search may reveal your dating profiles. If so, what will be found there? What information will be accessed? 
• Are you active in comments and on forums? Comments on sites, forums, and posts are not hidden from Google. Are you ok with future clients seeing your online comments? Are you comfortable with the language you are using online? 
• Look through other people’s pages or public spaces featuring photos you might be tagged in.
• Where else might pictures of you be found?  

Tip: Keep in mind that the internet has an almost perfect memory, and online activity is never private. Even deleted activity and closed group activity may be screenshotted. A good rule of thumb is that if something is online, it is not private. With that in mind, ask yourself: is what people might find out about you online congruent with what you share in your private practice through self-disclosure? 

The bottom line 

Your online image has the power to convey trust and reinforce the reliability of your reputation, or it has the ability to negatively influence your reputation and the success of your private practice. Routinely taking the time to assess your online presence is an important part of reputational management, and if you are ever in doubt over how you might be perceived online, consider welcoming peer input. As therapists, we are each other’s greatest advocates, and sometimes a fresh set of eyes can illuminate potential concerns that might have otherwise been overlooked. 

Nothing dispels fear like trust, and when we as therapists authentically present ourselves as the trustworthy advocates and professionals that we are, we help neutralize the fear keeping families from getting the help they need. Without earning this sacred trust, we simply cannot operate effectively. Our trustworthiness is one of the most essential factors contributing to private practice success, and when we take mindful, responsible ownership of our online presence, we are proving to others that they are safe to trust us. 

There are a collection of emotional experiences that are common to all humans: Happiness, sadness, surprise, fear, anxiety, disgust, anger, enjoyment, and oftentimes, imposter syndrome. 

Imposter syndrome is a phenomenon that can be experienced by any human in any field of work, but due to the nature of clinical therapy, the feeling of being an imposter is something most therapists will experience at some point, especially child and adolescent therapists.

What is Imposter Syndrome?

The Journal of General Internal Medicine defines Imposter Syndrome as follows:

“Imposter syndrome… describes high-achieving individuals who, despite their objective successes, fail to internalize their accomplishments and have persistent self-doubt and fear of being exposed as a fraud or imposter.” 

To put it simply, if you struggle to include your capabilities, achievements, and potential in your sense of self, then you may feel like a fraud, and, as a result, doubt yourself – despite the collection of moments or accomplishments when your capability was proven. 

Who is at risk of Imposter Syndrome?

No one is immune from Imposter Syndrome. The phenomenon can impact both men and women in any career, but there is increasing evidence that therapists are likely to encounter this phenomenon at some point in their career. Level of experience (from newbie to advanced) and format (virtual versus in-person) doesn’t appear to have an impact.

Symptoms of Imposter Syndrome

Here are the primary symptoms of Imposter Syndrome: 

1. Self-doubt
2. Negative internal self-dialogue 
3. Low-self esteem
4. Anxiety

Imposter Syndrome causes - Why does Imposter Syndrome happen?

There are arguably countless reasons why an experienced and/or qualified child therapist may experience Imposter Syndrome. Self-doubt can make anyone feel like a fraud, but if you are a child therapist then here are three primary reasons why you may experience Imposter Syndrome.

• Child therapy may be new and different for you.
  If you are new to the world of clinical therapy for children and adolescents, then stepping into a new role can temporarily throw off your sense of confidence. Perhaps you were previously a school counselor or hospital social worker, and now you are needing to rely on a different set of skills to succeed in the new role and environment you are currently operating in, such as virtual child therapy. Or maybe you mostly treated adults in the past and are expanding your scope of practice to include children now that you have received more training.

• You are not a parent yourself.

If you are not a parent yourself, you may dread the potential question from parents, “how old are your kids?” or “how many children do you have?”

However, keep in mind that even if you are not a parent, the caregivers are (most of the time) not child therapists. Which means, regardless of whether you are a parent, when it comes to therapy you are still the expert in the situation. You still have a deep understanding of childhood psychology and childhood development, and the caregivers are coming to you for a reason.

• You may feel you are not meeting parental expectations for therapy.

You may feel real or perceived pressure from the child’s caregivers to change the child’s behavior to whatever the parents consider positive behavior to be. You may feel the need to accomplish the parent’s goals in your work with the child in order to “prove” that therapy is working. However, these situations often come at the very high cost of not feeling confident in the process, because the therapeutic process may be much different from whatever the caregiver’s presumed process might look like.

It is always a good idea to stay true to your expertise and stick to the therapeutic process by helping caregivers understand that child therapy is more than changing unwanted behaviors – although that certainly can be the result sometimes. Remember: the primary objective of child therapy is about the child feeling seen, heard, understood, and supported by healthy relationships. Changed behavior is the secondary result that may come about in the therapeutic process. 

Since therapists tend to be highly empathetic and agreeable people, having to manage caregiver expectations may feel daunting and can add to the felt sense of insecurity. 

• Child therapy can be very uniquely challenging.
  Part of a child therapist’s job is to work with little humans who are still developing their brain, and sometimes, certain clients may require more patience and energy than others. If the child is exhibiting challenging behaviors in your sessions (head down, on their phone, playing a computer game, not talking, etc.) you may feel unsure of how to engage with them. Their behavior can be misinterpreted as resistance or disinterest, and unfortunately, this can lead to premature termination. If you tell the caregiver that the child is not engaging in therapy, then the caregiver may decide the child is not interested in therapy and terminate.

It can be challenging sometimes to join the child’s interests and meet them where they are, but it is possible. For example, ask them questions about the video game, be willing to play with them, and to keep trying to gain a deeper understanding of what the child’s world and thoughts are like. 

Additionally, there are many misconceptions about what child therapy is, by both parents and other professionals.  Oftentimes a child will tell others “we played” when describing their sessions, and as a result, the caregivers may surmise that the child “should” be doing something else more productive or beneficial. 

Any number of challenges such as these can cause child therapists to question their abilities to work with children (virtually or otherwise), and unfortunately, this doubt is often reflected in interactions with the child, which in turn affects the behavior of the child and the therapist/client relationship.  

What to do if you have Imposter Syndrome?

If you are reading this article and suspecting that you have Imposter Syndrome, then rest assured, relief from feelings of Imposter Syndrome is possible. Here is how to successfully navigate Imposter Syndrome.

How to successfully navigate Imposter Syndrome.

• Practice awareness and acceptance.
  The first step towards intentionally changing anything is being aware of what is happening and accepting the reality of its existence. Coming to terms with the fact that you are struggling with Imposter Syndrome is not a failure. It is an admittance of being a normal human. Especially within the arena of virtual child counseling, Imposter Syndrome is extremely common.
  
  To work optimally within the family system requires an enormous amount of courage and skill that only comes with experience and, at times, some additional support. Being a child therapist also requires enormous amounts of energy. Having to remain patient, calm, empathetic, emotionally grounded, and helpful can take a toll. Whether it’s virtual or in-person, child therapy is not something that can be done half-way, and while being a child counselor is one of the most wonderful and rewarding careers (we’re biased, of course), it can also be emotionally and physically draining.

• Get some professional support.
  Whether you are a newer therapist just starting out or a seasoned therapist, learning is a never-ending process, and our clients never stop teaching us. Regardless of where you are at in your career, mentoring, self-therapy, and therapist peer consultation groups are there when you need them.

For newer child therapists, seeking some professional support such as professional training, consultation (individual or group), therapy, etc. is especially a good idea.

Feeling like a fraud creates a mindset of fear and facing that fear together with some professional support may be very helpful. At Hopscotch, we have seen that newer therapists benefit most from individual or group consultation.

For more seasoned therapists, engage in some intensive self-reflection analysis. Self-reflection is part of your journey, and it is one of the best ways to grow. If you are more experienced in your career, then look inward. How do you feel about some of the more innovative methods? Is there a clash of cultural norms and therapy methodology as a result? Was there a time you felt like a fraud before? What triggered the feeling? How did you manage or process the feeling last time?

• Don’t stop. Continue showing up and bring curiosity with you.
  Curiosity is a powerhouse emotion! Nothing obliterates fraud-feelings like curiosity. No therapist knows it all, and that’s ok. Knowing your clients is just as important as knowing the necessary methodologies, and you will do your best work when you grow your expertise on who your clients are and what makes them tick. Keep showing up and meeting your clients where they are with a healthy dose of curiosity.

• Explore creative ways to engage with whatever is interesting to your clients.
  If your client lives in a different time zone or operates in a different culture or community, get curious. Is music a big part of their life? Ask them to share their playlists and talk about their music choices. Is gaming important? Talk with them about the different characters, the naming of the characters, the goals of the game, watch them play, ask them if they would like to share what they are doing with you, and definitely play with them if invited. This will provide a lot of valuable information into their world.

• Be a part of your client’s world.
  Chances are, you would be more confident in your ability to communicate with someone who spoke your own language versus someone who spoke a different language than the one you were fluent in. But social attitude, interests, culture, family system, etc. are all examples of psychological languages, and in our experience, the insecurities many child therapists feel are connected to the felt sense of disconnect they feel with their client’s world.
  
  For instance, children are very tech savvy, especially post-Pandemic, and digital play is a big part of their world. If engaging and connecting through technology is a language you are still developing fluency in, then working on that fluency will build your confidence in your practice. There is no escaping the reality that the language of tech is becoming more and more dominant and finding a way to embrace technology and “join in on the conversation” will allow you to feel more confident.

• Shift your mindset from teacher to empower-er.
  One of the aims of child therapy is to assist in fostering a sense of control and mastery within the child or adolescent. In other words, you don’t have to be “expert.” Instead, lean into the narrative that the child client is the expert in their world. Allow them to lead. It is ok for you as a therapist to step back into the space of being a novice to give the child client the opportunity to showcase what is most important to them. In fact, this technique of letting the child be the expert can lead to extremely beneficial therapeutic discoveries.
  
  A great place to begin treating your client like an expert is to get comfortable in any space, format, or conversation that is familiar and comfortable to them (IE: the digital space). If there is an opportunity to allow the child the advantage of having enhanced competency over you, defer to them. Allow them to show you what they think you would benefit from knowing about them, and let the child show and teach you what is relevant to them in the way that is most relevant and familiar to them. 

• Engage parents throughout the process.

Imposter Syndrome whispers fearful commentary in your head like, “You’re gunna fail!” But in truth, success and failure are arbitrary terms, and success or whatever you define as failure is not entirely up to you. Child therapy is an extremely collaborative process, and working with the child client’s caregivers is essential.

Most parents need their child’s therapist to help them understand the benefits of therapy, what therapy looks like with children and adolescents, and how successful virtual therapy can be. Part of being a child therapist is helping caregivers understand that children are never “just playing” in therapy. Consider your script for introducing or reframing therapy, art therapy, and play therapy to parents during your intake and throughout your parent check-ins.

Hopscotch’s team of experts highly recommends this excellent video which can help caregivers understand why talk therapy is not always the best route for children. Consider showing this video to parents as part of the intake process.

Watch now:  Introducing Andrew – The Association for Play Therapy

• Shift your client’s perspective so they understand that therapy is a supportive space, not a consequence.

Unfortunately, there are many unhelpful and inaccurate perceptions surrounding child and adolescent therapy. Many times, children are brought to therapy because they are perceived to have problem behaviors that “need to be fixed.” Understandably, this may cause the child to view therapy as a consequence rather than as a beneficial method to receive supportive assistance with their difficulties. Any time you can normalize therapy and reframe your client’s perspective, you are making a difference.

• Cultivate self-trust. At Hopscotch, we are convinced that the imposter version of you simply does not exist. You have training, experience, qualifications, and you also have the very practical ability to be present for the child, which is transformative. Please don’t underestimate the power you have to make an impact.
  
  What if you knew enough, were qualified enough, and were experienced enough? Then what? Chances are, there would still be more to learn and experience, right? A great way to cultivate self-trust is to reassess your qualifications. Make a list of your training, education, experiences, accomplishments, personal and professional achievements, certifications, etc. and just stare at that list for a while. Compare what you know today versus what you knew when you first started your therapist journey. You still may not know everything, but… who does? 

• Make routine self-care a consistent habit.

Ah… self-care. For many therapists, self-care is easier to advocate for than commit to. While you are busy trying to care for your clients, please do not forget to care for yourself. No one can pour from an empty cup, and sometimes, all that is needed to banish the fear and restore confidence is some restorative self-care.

Special thanks to Dr. Rachel Altvater, Hopscotch Clinical Advisor, who helped inspire this article and contributed her wisdom about Play Therapy,  Imposter Syndrome and entering a child’s world during a recent conversation with Hopscotch!

It can be scary, and in some cases alarming, for many caregivers to learn that their child has a learning disorder. This discovery may fill the parent with all sorts of thoughts and feelings, including fear, denial, anger, and guilt. The idea that their child may have a disability of any kind may be shocking, and it is normal for parents to react with intense emotions of disbelief, fear, and even shame in response to hearing the news. The reality is that before parents and caregivers can accept the fact that their child has a learning disability and work collaboratively with you as the therapist to support their child’s needs, they need time to adjust and process. 

As with relaying any sensitive information, education is key. Parents may have an inaccurate definition or mental concept of what a learning disorder really is, and they may not even be familiar with the learning disabilities most common to adolescents. When you, as the therapist, suspect that a child you’re seeing in therapy has a learning challenge, or a parent you’re working with has just had this confirmed for them about their child, you can help the parents avoid jumping to conclusions or extreme hypotheticals by covering the preliminary basics up front. 

What is a learning disorder?

A learning disorder is a cognitive inability to acquire knowledge in the same way as others in a particular age group. One in five children have a learning disability, and common learning disabilities for elementary and middle school children include: Dyslexia, ADHD, Dyscalculia, Dysgraphia, Dyspraxia, and Auditory Processing Disorder (also called Central Auditory Processing Disorder).

Warning signs of common learning disorders:

1. Dyslexia
Children with dyslexia have a difficult time reading, writing, speaking, and comprehending verbal instructions.

Primary symptoms of Dyslexia:

• Writing letters backwards or flipped
• Difficulty with reading comprehension
• Delayed speech development
• Trouble comprehending instructions

2. ADHD
Even though Attention Deficit Hyperactivity (ADHD) is not considered an official learning disability, it is common for children with ADHD to have another specific learning disability, and the two conditions together often cause learning challenges.

Primary symptoms of ADHD:

• Inability to sit still and concentrate 
• Lack of basic organization skills 
• Extreme forgetfulness
• Incapacity to be attentive 
• Low motivation and drastic mood swings

3. Dyscalculia

Children with Dyscalculia have a specific struggle with understanding even the most basic concepts of math.

Primary symptoms of Dyscalculia:

• Struggling with measuring time and estimating/gauging duration
• Difficulty understanding order of operations
• General struggle with all things mathematical/numerical 

4. Dysgraphia
Children with Dysgraphia struggle to write legibly or quickly and also find grammar to be an intensely challenging subject to grasp.

Primary symptoms of Dysgraphia:

• Lack of spatial awareness required for legible writing
• Difficulty holding a writing utensil properly
• Writing while speaking out loud

5. Dyspraxia

Dyspraxia presents itself in a variety of ways, however this learning disability primarily interferes with learning associated with hand-eye coordination skills. As a result, writing and participating physically with learning practices requiring fine-motor skills is challenging.

6. Auditory Processing Disorder
Auditory Processing Disorder impacts the way the brain hears and understands speech and spoken words. Children/adolescents with auditory processing challenges may struggle to differentiate between sounds (especially rhyming or similar sounds), comprehend what is being said, identify sound sources, or differentiate primary sounds from background noise.

Therapists are responsible for being familiar with the warning signs and symptoms of learning disabilities and working with caregivers to obtain the formal diagnosis necessary for supportive services to be secured. To this end, a therapist has three primary objectives when discussing learning disability concerns with a child’s caregivers. 

How to support parents and children with learning disabilities

1. Advocate with compassion and transparent integrity.
Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that the child/adolescent receives the resources necessary to have their best chance to experience as much success as possible with all learning endeavors. If the child is an older adolescent who you suspect missed out on a proper diagnosis and treatment at an earlier age, then be sure to exercise additional care when communicating concerns to caregivers. There are many reasons why an adolescent may have missed out on early treatment such as access to suitable resources and support, pandemic learning related issues, prolonged illnesses, attribution of challenges in school to behavioral issues rather than learning disorder symptoms, multiple home placements, such as foster care, or frequent family moves..

2. Be proactive. As soon as you suspect a child or adolescent may have a learning disorder, speak up.
Early intervention is best. It is important to address and/or diagnose early for educational reasons and because delayed diagnosis and struggling without understanding why can lead to depression, low self-esteem, behavioral issues, and other developmental concerns.

3. Be a resource for helping parents obtain support services.
If you are unable to provide a particular form of support, then be a helpful resource and refer caregivers as appropriate so that they can get the help they need. Be sure to include telehealth providers, especially if the necessary supportive services are not readily available in the location your client needs help.

7 Tips for how to talk with parents about their child’s learning disabilities

If you suspect a learning disorder, it is important to help parents accept the child’s disability and work collaboratively with them to ensure the child/adolescent receives support. Here are seven effective strategies for talking with parents about their child’s learning disability. 

• Mindfully tailor what you say to parents. Research indicates that the way in which a diagnosis is relayed and explained to caregivers has a powerful influence on the parent’s reaction. What you say to parents will also impact how they will communicate with others about their child’s diagnosis, including the child with the diagnosis, the child’s siblings, other family members, school, and more.  When possible, help parents prepare for how they will talk to their child and others about their child’s strengths, challenges and needs.

• Hold space for authentic reactions. Between the shock of hearing the news and accepting and responding to the news, there is an adjustment process.. The stages of adjustment a caregiver experiences may include thoughts and feelings of denial, avoidance, fear, self-blame, or even anger. Your role as the therapist is to be compassionate, comforting, and supportive to help parents reach acceptance so that the important work of securing resources for the child can begin.

• Provide accurate information to normalize what is often seen as abnormal. The stigma that unfortunately surrounds disability concerns is unwarranted, and according to the National Center of Education Statistics, around 33% (or one-third) of grade school students receive some form of special education services. Thus, it is important to reassure parents that they are not alone, and there are many resources available to help them establish a new sense of normal.  There are many current examples of leaders, inventors, and other role models who have overcome challenges and have made important contributions to the world.  This awareness can provide parents and their kids with hope. 

• Be prepared with a list of resources available to assist the child and parent. Caregivers often “don’t know what to do” when they are informed that their child may have a learning disability, so it is very important to have the next steps for securing diagnosis, treatment, and supportive resources at the ready. To avoid information overload, you may establish rapport with parents by directly asking them how much and what types of communication they find helpful. Respected sources of learning disability related information includes Child Mind Institute, Learning Disabilities Association of America, Understood, LDOnine, and Center for Parent Information and Resources. 

• Be honest. There is always hope, so articulating hope is both useful and comforting, however be cautious to not give false hope as this can lead to unrealistic expectations and disappointment.

• Encourage questions. Discovering that their child has a learning disability can cause shame within many caregivers. This is due in part to the stigma surrounding learning disabilities but may also be ascribed to a sense of guilt, especially for older children who may have gone undiagnosed during more formative years. As with most complex emotions, feelings of shame and guilt can result in silence, and some reassurances and promptings for questions may be helpful.

• Support your clients through all stages of adjustment and even after acceptance has been achieved. Caregivers are often overwhelmed with grief when they learn that their child is unable to fulfill any subconscious wish they may have had for an “ideal” or “normal” child. It is important to reassure parents by pointing out the many avenues for progressive success to occur. Remember, parents are a child’s primary support system. If you discern that a caregiver is having a particularly difficult time adjusting, individual parental counseling or coaching for additional support may be recommended.

The ongoing, significant toll that the Pandemic has taken on many of today’s therapists is a fact that is being further enunciated as more and more therapists opt for autonomy over supervision. As the rapidly changing field of mental health continues to evolve, the abundance of entrepreneurial resources has caused many clinicians to pursue their private practice dream, and for many therapists, this means moving their practice to 100% online. While there are many pros to being your own boss, the lack of peer support is a major downside that, if left unattended, can lead to anxiety, isolation, imposter syndrome, and burnout.

As many private practice clinicians know, sometimes, private practice work can be lonely, and the loss of access to case consultation is a loss that is felt both personally and professionally. Fortunately, this is a problem with a solution, and private practice clinicians now have access to peer consultation groups through Hopscotch’s exclusive platform. Hopscotch provides a judgment-free, confidential space for peer support through clinical case consultation, a feature that our strong network of providers finds significant value in.

Debunking the top three myths surrounding clinical consultations

Unfortunately, there are a few common misconceptions about therapist group consulting that may prevent a therapist from participating in and benefitting from therapist consultation groups. So, before we list all the valuable benefits of therapist group consulting, let’s debunk the top three myths surrounding clinical consultations:

1. I’ll be judged.
   Nope. You won’t. The group consultations Hopscotch hosts always begin with our trained facilitator laying the ground rules: No judgment allowed, only kind, respectful, supportive dialogue permitted, and utmost confidentiality honored always. Hopscotch’s consulting groups are a safe place for therapists to recharge and grow.
   
2. I shouldn’t need help.
   Oof. That is a heavy burden to bear. That is also a cognitive distortion inspired by fear. Let’s vanquish that fear with the truth: We all need help from time to time, so let’s embrace this need together. Group consultation is rewarding, supportive, and illuminating. It’s a place to network and grow on a deeper level, and it is not uncommon for many therapists within a consulting group to end up becoming close friends with the other therapists in the group. Seriously – we are often each other’s strongest allies.
   
3. I’ll be seen as incompetent rather than as an equal to my peers.
   Actually, the reverse could be argued, because those who participate in clinical consulting tend to grow in competency at a much faster pace than those who avoid collaboration through consulting. This is in large part because consulting groups offer so much transfer of knowledge thanks to all the bright minds and intellectual insight available. We grow best when we grow together.

Therapy consultation groups: 11 Benefits of Therapist Consulting

1. Group consultation helps with processing the complicated feelings that therapy can bring up.
   The Pandemic has been extremely challenging for the mental health industry professionals who rose to meet the challenge of a world in deep psychological distress. It is time for us to normalize that now and encourage each other so that we can process and decompress complicated feelings, remind each other that we are not alone, and renew our passion for our profession.
   
   
2. Giving back is rewarding.
   Chances are you will learn something new and helpful, but even if you are a seasoned clinician who already has a robust network of peers and perspectives, perhaps you are the person who can share and impart helpful wisdom to the group.
   
   
3. A strong support network of colleagues helps reduce burnout and isolation.
   Sometimes we are so focused on emotionally and psychologically supporting our clients, that we forget we need self-care just as much as our clients do. By debriefing with a consulting group, you can obtain all the benefits that a supportive community offers.
   
   
4. Second opinions and additional perspectives provide confidence.
   Group consultations are extremely affirming and can provide the clarity needed to administer treatment plans with confidence.
   
   
5. It’s an ethical practice that is testament to your good character.
   Sometimes therapists are requested to testify in court, which can be extremely intimidating. Being able to testify that you consulted with a group of industry professionals on a recommendation or treatment option shows that you conduct your work comprehensively as an ethical professional.
   
   
6. Get help for the tricky cases.
   We know all too well that therapy is sometimes not as “textbook” as society and TV shows can sometimes make it seem. The truth is people are complex and sometimes situations are tricky. Inviting some knowledgeable and professional input into a difficult situation can make all the difference.
   
   
7. Grow your therapist toolbox by exchanging best practices.
   Getting a fresh perspective on how to best support the psychological needs of both you and your clients is always helpful, especially in the ever-changing nature of our industry.
   
   
8. Discover new approaches to treatment and gain new resources.
   The mental health industry is full of vibrant minds. Why not leverage and invest in the wisdom of your industry as appropriate? Participating in consulting groups helps ensure good news and breakthrough treatment approaches travel fast.
   
   
9. Network and cultivate supportive working relationships with Hopscotch peers.
   In addition to the obvious values and takeaways of growing your professional network, connecting with other Hopscotch peers will allow you to develop your list of resources for referrals.
   
   
10. Get some general peer-to-peer coaching.
    Have a question? Hopscotch therapist consultation groups are a great place to find the answer. Our peer groups are a great place to brainstorm any topic from business and marketing strategies, to personal self-care, to client treatment solutions.
    
    
11. It is an opportunity to practice what you preach.
    We are constantly encouraging our clients to connect, decompress, and recharge in community. It’s excellent therapeutic counsel for a reason, and a supportive community of like minded people who understand the nuance of our own unique world cannot be underestimated. Therapists need support groups, too, so let’s show up for ourselves by showing up for each other.
    
    

The bottom line: Therapy peer consultation groups are important and 100% worth your time.

Continuing to grow and learn throughout a therapist’s career is not just want – it’s a need, and obtaining affirmational guidance and support from a group of likeminded clinicians is both personally and professionally rewarding. Whether you work virtually online or in person, clinical consultation is a valuable asset that is worthy of being prioritized, and there are many affordable and secure options for collaborating with the other brilliant and compassionate minds in our industry. Our supportive team of experts here at Hopscotch invite you to give yourself the clinical and emotional support you deserve by participating in one of our upcoming consulting groups.

There is an energy swirling around this time of year. It’s as if the world is waking back up from a deep sleep, and all of nature is moving, growing, and busying itself once again. Flowers are blooming, robin eggs are hatching, and each day has a bit more sunshine than the one before. 

Spring is in full swing, but if we’re being honest, many of us are still trying to recover and catch up from the holidays. (Seriously, how is it almost Summer already??) If you find yourself struggling with burnout or still thawing from the winter blues, you are not alone. Most people experience a slump in productivity and energy between January and April. 

Humans are part of nature, and we function best when we acclimate ourselves to seasonal energy. In fact, one of the best ways to prevent burnout is to match nature’s rhythms, and by doing so, we can tap into powerful natural energy reserves that are as rejuvenating as they are motivating. 

Whether you’re needing a boost of energy for productivity or a dose of rest so you can feel ready to bloom again, this complete spring refresh may be just the reset you need to bounce back. 

Go from stressed to refreshed – Revitalize your energy with this complete, five-step spring reset routine for therapists. 

• Refresh yourself.
  As therapists, we are constantly telling our clients to never underestimate the power of simple joys and routine self-care, yet many of us are so guilty of overlooking our own well-being. The truth is, one of the best ways therapists can advocate for self-care is to model it.
  
  Action item: Block out time on your calendar to enjoy your favorite self-care practices to refresh your mind, body, and soul. 

Refreshing self-care ideas

• Choose to spend one whole morning, afternoon, or day enjoying guilt-free relaxation
• Get a haircut
• Groom your eyebrows or facial hair
• Commit to a health cleanse
• Get a massage
• Meet up with a friend
• Listen to a “just for fun” podcast
• Read a motivational book
• Meditate
• Go on a long walk or hike
• Listen to your favorite music
• Go on a weekend vacation 
• Unplug from technology for a day
• Take a social media fast
• Explore meaningful ways to reconnect with your own personal faith
• Participate in your own therapy
  
  

1. Refresh your focus.
   Much like the seasons, you change. You have never been static. New connections, ideas, interests, and experiences are forever altering and sharpening your desires, and taking a moment to pause, reflect, and reassess can help keep your efforts on track. Springtime is a great time to renew your professional focus, so take a mindful moment and ask yourself: Are the goals you made back at the start of the year still reflective of your professional aspirations?
   
   Action item: Ensure your current professional image accurately reflects your renewed focus. If necessary, refresh your directory profiles, pictures, and videos to ensure everything is up to date and correctly speaks to your ideal client.
   
   

• Refresh your to-do list.

Even if it’s just a mental one, EVERYONE has a to-do list. What’s on yours? If you’re feeling unsure, start with the piles. 

What’s been building up?

Is there a stack of paperwork you’ve been putting off? 

Action item: Before diving into productivity mode, strategize. Reflect before taking action and create a thoughtful to-do list. Try to focus on only the most essential tasks, and if it starts to feel overwhelming, give yourself permission to cross any non-essential tasks off the list.

Tip: It may be helpful to have two separate to-do lists: a professional one and a personal one. And while you’re in thinking mode, now may also be a good time to plan ahead and develop a strategy for success for the slower summer months ahead. 6 Tips for therapists: Navigating the summer slowdown like a pro

• Refresh your environment.
  There is a reason why “spring cleaning” is a thing. Nothing kicks burnout to the curb like getting organized. Countless studies have proven that environmental factors are one of the biggest influences on just about any form of success. From habit forming to feelings and mood regulation, the environment you operate in can make or break your experiences. 

Action item: Consider the relationship you have with your home environment. Is it a healthy, uplifting, motivational, and functional one? Or is it unhealthy, unsupportive, demotivating, and dysfunctional?

Now may also be a good time to consider your therapist office environment. 

If you have telehealth clients, what are they seeing behind you? And what is your view from the computer? 

If you meet your clients in person, does your office ambiance support your client’s healing experience? 

If not, it may be time to refresh your therapy office. Rest assured, you don’t need to be an expert decorator to create a calming and inviting environment for your private practice. 

5 Easy decorating tips your therapy office

• Keep it tidy. The number one best design tip is to keep spaces clean and clutter-free. Ample décor, stacks of paperwork, and too many knickknacks are not conducive to a soothing atmosphere.
  
  

• Choose neutral colors. A few pops of calming colors such as forest greens and blues are ok, but avoid royal gem colors such as reds, oranges, and bold purples.
  
  

• Keep your plants healthy and alive. Clients need to associate your office with the place where things thrive, and if you have plants in your office that are clearly not thriving, then that sends a very strong, albeit subliminal, message to your clients. Succulents, spider plants, money trees, and pothos vines are just a few examples of the many wonderful low-maintenance indoor plant options that can liven any office. Otherwise, if you opt to decorate your office with fake plants, just be sure to invest in good quality ones and keep them dust-free. 

• Include soft elements. Comforting décor pieces such as inviting pillow cushions, a plush accent carpet, or even a warm throw blanket on the couch are gentle elements that are worth investing in. Soft décor items send a clear message that your office is a safe place to get comfortable in.
  
  

• Be mindful of the smell. Scents play a powerful role in setting the ambiance of an environment, for both you and your client.  If you’re providing Telehealth services, is there a fragrance that would stimulate your work with clients?  If you’re meeting clients in person, you’ll want to be conscious of allergies. Additionally, some people are very sensitive to certain perfumes, and synthetic fragrances are known to trigger migraines or even trauma responses. It’s best to avoid strong perfume or synthetic fragrances and choose gentle, all natural scents that are pleasantly noticeable but not overpowering, such as lavender, rose, or bright citrusy scents. 

1. Refresh your mindset.
   Feeling like you need to catch up is more often than not a mindset rather than a reality. Remember that progress is more important than perfection, and self-imposed due dates are often arbitrary. You reserve the right to adjust the timeline as needed.  

Action item: Assess your progress. Is your current workload sustainable? How are you doing financially? Do you need to dial your marketing strategy up or back? By taking the time to realistically reconnect with your overall progress, you may realize that you’re further along than you realized. And if not, a mental reset can help you think proactively instead of reactively. 

The bottom line

“Nature does not hurry, yet everything is accomplished.” – Lao Tzu

Spring is a time for reconnecting and refreshing, and a reset routine can be just the thing to help you recenter yourself in alignment with your focus – professionally and personally. As you ground yourself in the present reality, feel free to get creative, and explore your own personal ways to refresh yourself. However you choose to reset your energy this season, remember that sometimes all it takes to bloom is a renewed perspective, some patience, and a little sunshine.