Specialty Therapy Services

In-Home CTSS Services
Therapy Connections, LLC, is certified by the Minnesota Department of Human Services to provide Children's Therapeutic Services and supports (CTSS). Our program focuses on providing home-based services for children who require varying therapeutic and rehabilitative levels of intervention.

CTSS Information Sheet

EMDR
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is a non-drug, non-hypnosis psychotherapy procedure. EMDR is for survivors of trauma or loss. Traumatic events may include: car or work accident, fire, assault, robbery, rape, childhood abuse, natural disaster, injury or illness and loss of loved one. EMDR is used to treat troubling symptoms such as anxiety or panic, depression, shame or guilt, bad temper, fears, nightmares, worrying and post-traumatic reactions.
 
For more information visit http://www.trauma.info/

DBT
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) provides clients with skills to maintain a "life worth living." DBT provides practical and effective skills for changing behavioral patterns. Individuals experiencing intense pain through depression, bipolar disorder, PTSD, anxiety, addictions and many other issues can all benefit from DBT.

Blaine Adolescent DBT Group
Groups run 22 weeks and include adolescent girls ages 13-17. An intake is conducted over the phone along with a face-to-face meeting with the therapist to determine if the adolescent would be eligible for the group. Parents are required to participate and attend approximately one meeting per month. DBT is about learning tools and skills in interpersonal effectiveness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, mindfulness, and living in balance. Adolescents and parents will learn and refine skills to reduce: interpersonal chaos, "roller coaster" emotions and moods, impulsiveness, distorted thinking patterns, confusion and self identity. Group members are required to actively participate, complete diary cards and other work between sessions, commit to going through all modules at least once, and follow guidelines for group.

Location:    Therapy Connections Blaine Office 
Day/Time:   Tuesdays from 4:00-6:00 p.m.  
Summer:    Tuesdays from 10:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
Currently:   DBT session ends April 10, 2012

Play Therapy
Play therapy uses play-based models and techniques to better communicate with children. Children communicate their thoughts and feelings through play more naturally. Play therapy helps treat problems that interrupt a child's normal development. Some reasons for treatment include, temper tantrums, aggressive behavior, non-medical problems with bowel or bladder control, difficulties with sleeping or having nightmares, and experiencing worries or fears. Children who have experienced neglect and sexual or physical abuse can also benefit from play therapy.

For Adults:
Anxiety, depression, relationships/marriage, grief & loss, spirituality, parenting, trauma, adoption, infertility, personality disorders, life stage/coaching.

For Children or Adolescents:
Adoption, cultural issues, anger, anxiety, depression, friendships, school issues, ADHD, trauma, attachment.

For Couples: 
Relational Life Therapy, Prepare/Enrich, and other modalities may be used to address issues which occur in the context of a couples relationship.  In some cases, individual therapy may be recommended. 

Family Therapy:
There are times when the entire family may be struggling with divorce, separation, or other major changes in the family system.  All of these, and more, may seem overwhelming or impossible to resolve.  With a trained and objective therapist, problems can often be brought out in a safe environment where they can be dealt with and the barriers between the family members can be removed.  

Therapy Assessment Tool

Prepare/Enrich
Prepare/Enrich is a thoroughly researched and scientifically validated assessment tool for identifying areas of strength and areas for improvement in a couples relationship.  Check out the Prepare-Enrich website for a complete explanation of the tool, and to understand how we can work together to use the insights it provides to increase your relationship success. 

Therapy Approach

Relational Life Therapy
A brief, solution-focused approach to identifying and removing the barriers which are keeping two people in a committed relationship from enjoying the benefits of being true to both themselves and their partner.