Therapy
A program of the Cherokee Child Advocacy Council Inc.
Therapy
At the Anna Crawford Children’s Center, our team consists of therapists who hold a master’s degree and are either licensed or eligible for licensure in Professional Counseling, Clinical Social Work, or Marriage and Family Therapy. We also serve as a therapy internship training site for several local universities, including Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, Mercer University, Richmont University, and the University of Georgia.
At the Anna Crawford Children’s Center, we actively involve non-offending caregivers in the treatment. A non-offending caregiver (NOC) is an adult who cares for a child who has been abused but is not the alleged perpetrator. NOCs can play an important role in a child’s well-being and adjustment.
Evidence-Based Therapy
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
One of the key treatment models we employ at the Anna Crawford Children’s Center is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT). TF-CBT is an evidence-based therapy designed for children and adolescents affected by trauma, as well as their parents or caregivers. This treatment model is based on various components that blend trauma-sensitive approaches with cognitive behavioral, family, and humanistic principles and techniques. TF-CBT has demonstrated effectiveness for children and adolescents aged 3 to 18 who are experiencing significant emotional challenges, such as symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder, fear, anxiety, or depression, that stem from traumatic experiences. It is suitable for those who have faced either a single traumatic event or multiple traumas throughout their lives.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing
Another key treatment model that we use at the Anna Crawford Children’s Center is Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR). EMDR is a psychotherapy method created by Dr. Francine Shapiro aimed at helping individuals recover from trauma and challenges such as abuse, bullying, domestic violence, grief/loss, attachment wounds, abandonment, PTSD, and various other complex life situations. EMDR therapy is recognized as an evidence-based practice and is included in the SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) and the National Registry of Evidence-based Programs and Practices. Furthermore, it has been validated by over 20 randomized controlled clinical trials.
In addition to TF-CBT and EMDR, therapists at the Anna Crawford Children’s Center are also specially trained in Play Therapy, Sandtray therapy, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). They utilize various tools such as art, nature, puppets, therapeutic games, and more, alongside verbal communication, to help children and teens express themselves and heal from their experiences.
Psychoeducational Support Groups
The center offers psychoeducational support groups for our children and adolescent clients, as well as for non-offending caregivers. The psychoeducational support groups offered at the Anna Crawford Children’s Center aid in our clients healing journeys and provide additional support and community.
The Center provides a support group for non-offending parents, allowing them to connect with others who share similar experiences, thereby enriching their healing process. Additionally, we facilitate treatment referrals to local adult therapists for parents seeking individual therapy for themselves. Our support groups run for 8-weeks, meet weekly, and are typically 90 minutes in duration process. Our therapists offer emotional support to caregivers throughout their children’s therapy.
