• Parenting Through Relationship

    Parenting Through Relationship

    by Carolyn Knarr, MSW, LCSW, Director of Children’s Therapeutic Services From Genesis to Revelation, God reveals that He is relational. Because of his love for his people, he does whatever it takes to protect relationship with them, to the point of sending His only son to the cross. He understands their weaknesses and temptations. He seeks them out when they turn away from him. This relational aspect of the Gospel is a primary difference between Christianity and other religions. Christ responded to those he taught by caring, touching, healing, engaging. He not only had a significant effect on those he came into contact with. He was affected by them as…

  • What is Sandtray Therapy

    What is Sandtray Therapy?

    Introduction Sandtray therapy was created by Margaret Lowenfeld, who got her ideas from reading H.G. Wells’ book Floor Games, where Wells spoke of the use of miniature toys while he played with his sons on the floor. This technique was adopted by many others, including Dora Kalff, a Swedish therapist who modified Lowenfeld’s knowledge of the use of sand and miniatures according to Jungian principles, and named her technique Sandplay (Homeyer & Sweeney, 2011). Sandtray therapy can be used with adults, children and groups, and it is a safe way for those who have experienced trauma to use miniature figurines to express themselves through metaphors. Resistance to exploring past trauma…

  • August 2015 Newsletter Square

    Bridge to Wholeness | Volume 2 Issue 8 August 2015

    Welcome to the August 2015 Issue of the Agape newsletter, Bridge to Wholeness! Our monthly newsletter is the best way for you to keep up with what is going on around Agape, with events and updates, and articles written by our counselors. We hope it will help bring you a little bit closer to emotional, mental, and spiritual wholeness! In this issue (click to read individual articles): Adolescent Girls: The Transition from Childhood to Adulthood by Megan Jung, MA, LPC Sensory Processing Disorder in Children by Teresa Weeke, MA, PLPC Accentuate the Positive by Kathyrn Manley, MS, LPC, CST Back to School – Tips for Getting Through the Morning by Carolyn Knarr,…

  • Sensory Processing Disorder in Children

    Sensory Processing Disorder in Children

    By Teresa Weeke, MA, PLPC *note: this article has been edited for readability, for the original, scholarly article, click here: Weeke Aug 2015 Original Article – Sensory Processing Disorder in Children What is it? Those who have Sensory Processing Disorder (SPD), formerly known as Sensory Integration Dysfunction, experience sensory integration problems such that the input the brain receives from the senses does not match up with an appropriate response. Examples of an inappropriate response might include: temper tantrums because a child does not like how clothing feels next to the skin; eating problems relating to food texture; difficulty with coordination; non-stop activity or lethargy after simply going to the playground. SPD…