Like many programs across La Rabida, the Chicago Child Trauma Center (CCTC) began offering telehealth care to patients and families last year.

“Our therapists have been getting very creative with online resources throughout the pandemic, but we have been greatly missing some of the therapeutic supplies we typically use in interventions with our clients in the office,” explained Theresa Valach, Clinical Director of the CCTC.

With the help of a generous donor who heard about this need, our team at the CCTC was able to purchase and put together therapy care kits that give patients and families the tools they are accustomed to using with their therapist during in-person visits.

The CCTC’s mission is to provide care to children who have been exposed to traumatic events including physical and sexual abuse, witnessing violence, and complex trauma. Children process their trauma in a number of ways, including during play. It is common for kids to re-enact their traumas using dolls, Legos, and puppets. These items are included in the therapy kits to allow the child to process and share their trauma without relying on verbal communication. The child’s care team, while virtual, can watch and gain valuable insight from the child’s play.

Also included in the therapy kits are calm-down tools including stress balls, stress putty, and fidget toys.

“When children become triggered by an upsetting reminder of what happened or experience overwhelming feelings, we often work with the caregiver to help the child use relaxation or regulation techniques,” shared Theresa.

Strategies like blowing bubbles or spinning pinwheels can also help children learn how to control their breathing.

Arts and crafts play a big role in the treatment our team provides.

“We often color with children in sessions. Coloring is not only relaxing and good stress management but is something for children to do while they are talking to the therapist about things that might be stressful or uncomfortable,” said Theresa.

In trauma therapy, therapists work with the child on completing a trauma narrative. “We work with children to be able to tell their story, not only the story of the trauma itself but also recall other positive happy moments as well as other upsetting moments in their life,” explained Theresa. Together the child and their therapist build a book to do just that. The therapy bags include a blank book and art supplies that allow children to write and illustrate these stories.

Each therapy kit also includes a new journal, a tool regularly used in therapy as a way for a child to write about what they are thinking and feeling.

“Connecting your thoughts and feelings to certain actions and behaviors helps children come up with ways to improve and manage actions and behaviors by working on improving thoughts and feelings,” shared Theresa.

These are all tools, among many others, that therapists use with patients while working in person. Thanks to these new therapy kits, patients now have access to these supplies at home and around the clock.

This story was featured in the April 2021 issue of eCurrents. Read the full issue here.