Child-Focused Counseling
No-cost counseling is available to children and families dealing with a current or past investigation into child abuse or neglect.
Mental health professionals looking to refer in can email our Clinical Director Kayelynn Abramski.
Frequently Asked Questions About Counseling
Who is eligible for counseling at Small Talk?
Children ages 3-18 who complete a forensic interview.
What are the benefits of counseling?
Having a neutral person to talk to about traumatic experiences can reduce the disruptive and distressing symptoms associated with those experiences. Overall, children who attend counseling report reduced stress, anxiety, and depression as well as improved social and family relationships.
Do I need insurance/ is there a copay?
No. There are no costs for any of the services offered at Small Talk.
Is counseling mandatory?
No. Counseling is a personal choice made by children and their caregivers. No one is obligated to participate.
Is virtual counseling available?
Yes.
What if the abuse happened a long time ago?
It is a courageous act to disclose abuse, past or present. You may be eligible for our no-cost counseling if: a. If you were a victim in a past criminal child abuse investigation in Ingham or Eaton counties or, b. Your child is the victim in a criminal investigation in another county, but her or she currently reside in Ingham or Eaton counties. If you are not eligible for our no-cost counseling, we can refer you to our network of trauma-informed counselors.
I'm concerned about abusive behavior between two children. What are my options?
Please read about our open referral Healthy Boundaries program for children who exhibit difficult or potentially dangerous sexual behavior.
My family has a barrier to counseling like transportation, translation, or technology. Who can I talk to?
Contact our Clinical Director Lindsey Power via email by calling 517-999-8284.
Clinical Specialties
Counseling Philosophy
Counseling is guided by the client and the family. We work at the child's pace and walk with them on their healing journey. Our treatment models include: Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT), Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), Art and Play Therapy, Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT).
Group Therapy
Group therapy is an opportunity to connect with others who are facing similar thoughts, feelings, and situations, and it can help clients feel less alone in their experience. We try to offer a children’s group, adolescent/teen group, and caregiver group multiple times throughout the year. We sometimes offer short-term workshops and day camps. You can view some of our past groups like Thriving Through Trauma, Creative Coping, Superhero Training Academy, and How Far You'll Go based on Disney's Moana. Group therapy is available for current clients of Small Talk. Contact Lindsey Power at (517) 999-8284 with questions.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
The goal of TF-CBT is to provide education and help both the child and caregiver to identify and cope with emotions, thoughts, and behaviors. Once coping skills are developed, the traumatic experience is then processed, which can be done a number of different ways. TF-CBT involves individual sessions with the child as well as sessions with both the caregiver and child together. TF-CBT can be used with children and adolescents ages 3-18.
Eye-Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
During sleep we alternate between regular sleep and REM (Rapid Eye Movement). This sleep pattern is the body’s natural way of processing things that are troubling you. EMDR replicates this sleep pattern by alternating between sets of eye movements and brief reports about what clients are noticing. This alternating process helps clients update their memories and form a healthier perspective. EMDR can be used with all ages and a treatment session can last up to 50 minutes.
Art and Play Therapy
Art and Play Therapy builds on the natural way children learn and express their thoughts and feelings. Art and play therapy is effective for children with a wide variety of emotional, social, behavioral, and learning problems and can be helpful for those who are not able or ready to verbalize their experiences. A parent’s active involvement is crucial for achieving the most positive treatment effects. Art and play therapy is most appropriate for children ages 3-12 and sessions normally last between 30-50 minutes.
Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT)
CPT is most commonly used with older teenagers and adults. This treatment model is intended to help individuals more effectively manage their distressing thoughts by gaining a deeper understanding of how traumatic experiences influence the way we think about ourselves and the world.