Welcome

Heart to Heart Child and Family Counseling specializes in play therapy. The clinic houses two playrooms specifically designed to benefit the growth and recovery process of the children. The clinic also employs video monitors and a one-way mirror enabling viewing of playrooms for the benefit and inclusion of parents/guardians.

Play therapy is a form of counseling used to help children ages 2 to 12 years of age use their medium of expression to explore their thoughts, feelings, and life circumstances through play. The goal of play therapy is to help children learn to express themselves in healthier ways, become more respectful and empathetic, and discover new and more positive ways to solve problems. Parents/guardians meet with the therapist immediately following the session our clinic’s team approach is family focused. Review blog posts below for more information.
We use both directive and non-directive approaches: Trauma-focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), Attachment, Regulation Competency (ARC), and Experiential Play Therapy. We also have an one-way mirror so parents can view counseling sessions.

Heart to Heart Child and Family Counseling provides counseling services for teens and adults. Unlike children who experience change through play therapy, teens and adults are given the opportunity to engage in one-on-one talk therapy with a trained professional.

Heart to Heart Child and Family Counseling provides Theraplay as a supplement to other therapies. Theraplay is designed to promote bonding in the parent-child relationships. It builds and enhances attachment, self-esteem, trust in others, and joyful engagement. It is a beneficial tool for families with adopted children.
Theraplay interactions focus on four essential qualities found in parent-child relationships; Structure, Engagement, Nurture, and Challenge. The therapist guides the parent and child through playful, fun games, developmentally challenging exercises, and tender, nurturing activities.
Theraplay sessions create an active, emotional connection between the child and parent or caregiver, resulting in a changed view of the self as worthy and lovable and of relationships as positive and rewarding. 

HEART TO HEART HAS SESSIONS AT THE SCHOOL!
Heart to Heart is also offering counseling services within the school setting. Therapists travel to the school and provide expressive counseling using play, art, and music in the school building during school hours. We currently are offering counseling services at the following schools -- KIPP and LoveWorks.
If you are interested in your school joining, have your school director contact Mr. Kristof Chara, Heart to Heart's School Coordinator, at 651-243-1312 or email kristofc@hearttoheartfamilycounseling.com.

Accelerated Resolution Therapy, often referred to as ART, is a form of psychotherapy with roots in existing evidence-based therapies but shown to achieve benefits much more rapidly (usually within 1-5 sessions). Clients suffering from trauma and other mental health problems such as Anxiety, Depression, Phobias, Panic Attacks, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Addictions/ Substance Abuse , Performance Anxiety, Family Issues, Victimization/Poor Self Image, Victimization/Sexual Abuse, Relationship Issues/Infidelity, Codependency, Grief, Job Related Stress, Pain Management, Memory Enhancement and many other mental and physical conditions can experience remarkable benefits starting in the first session.
The client is always in control of the entire ART session, with the therapist guiding the process. Although some traumatic experiences such as rape, combat experiences, or loss of a loved one can be very painful to think about or visualize, the therapy rapidly moves clients beyond the place where they are stuck in these experiences toward growth and positive changes. The process is very straightforward, using relaxing eye movements and a technique called Voluntary Memory/Image Replacement to change the way in which the negative images are stored in the brain. The treatment is grounded in well-established psychotherapy techniques, and the end result is that traumas and difficult life experiences will no longer trigger strong emotions or physical reactions. Importantly, clients do not even have to talk about their traumas or difficult life experiences with the therapist to achieve recovery.

Great news! We have a sensory room for clients of all ages at Heart to Heart!
By utilizing sensory materials in a therapy setting, we can drastically help the child break the old trauma connections in their brains and rebuild them with healthier connections. A sensory room is a great tool for helping children process their current sensory reactions and explore new sensory connections in a safe and regulated environment. Utilizing tools in a sensory room can help individuals learn to self-regulate, feel grounded, repair attachment relationships, understand emotions, and recreate healthy brain patterns in response to sights, sounds, smells, tastes, and textures. See more information in our blog at the research behind sensory rooms!
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Heart to Heart Child and Family Center for Counseling  recently opened a Virtual Reality Therapy Clinic (from Psious) that is housed at our office. It has more than 70 virtual environments designed to treat a variety of problem issues such as ADHD, Anxiety, Eating Disorders, Specific Phobias/Fears (such as driving, flying, test taking, needles and more), PTSD, trauma. It also has the capacity to engage clients in exercises involving Relaxation, Mindfulness and Distraction of Pain, utilizing techniques such as EMDR. See https://psious.com/environments/ for more information.

Sand tray therapy is an attractive technique for teens and adults that is based on symbols of experiences, and creative thinking. A sand tray is a creative process that invites the participant to choose from a variety of figures and objects to create a scene in the sand. As you share about your creation, you begin to "see" your thoughts and feelings in front of you. This helps you process through the issue and move towards resolution.

Heart to Heart Child and Family Counseling offers group counseling for clients who have the same or similar life challenges. Group therapy is guided by a professional and provides a supportive environment in which multiple individuals are able to encourage and learn with and from one another. Drumming is also used during groups!

Dr. Kathleen is a Registered Play Therapist - Supervisor, certified by the Association for Play Therapy and is a LPC/LPCC MN Board Certified Supervisor. She provides play therapy supervision to clinicians who are working towards their credentialing as a Registered Play Therapist and supervision for clinicians working towards their LPC or LPCC licensure (working with all ages of clients). Dr. Kathleen can provide supervision via a variety of methods including long- distance via Google Meet.

Heart to Heart also accepts interns. Please contact Dr Kathleen at drkathleen@hearttoheartfamilycounseling.com or call her at 612-800-8301 for an interview.

Heart to Heart uses a comprehensive team approach to assess and treat a variety of childhood traumas, including trauma originating from abuse, neglect, and foster placement or adoption.
While working and teaching in the field of child and family psychology for over 30 years, Dr. Kathleen developed the HEARTS therapy model to address the comprehensive needs of children and families during the trauma therapy healing process. The HEARTS model is a culmination of Dr. Kathleen’s successful work bringing healing to children and families. Many therapy models try to fit a child into a predetermined box. The HEARTS model however, removes the conventional box approach and sees the therapy process as a unique journey that is most successful when tailored to fit each child and family’s specific needs. The entire Heart to Heart team is excited to offer quality care that follows the HEARTS therapy model.
The therapy goals as defined in the acronym HEARTS are achieved using a variety of resources and therapeutic interventions.

Comprehensive Assessment of Needs

• CASI or ESCII for Intensity
• Parent Stress Index
• Attachment Questionnaire
• Trauma Symptom Checklist
• Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire
• SCARED
• MIM Assessment
• Parent-Child 10-15 minute Play Observation
• Teacher/childcare Input
• Psychoeducation for Parents
• Parent weekly or monthly Check-ins
• Parent PPT session about trauma
• Parent PPT session about parental role at Heart to Heart (1-3 sessions, in-person or virtual)
• Teacher/Childcare Provider Contact and email sent with needed resources

Comprehensive Evidence-based Interventions

• Child-focused Play Therapy
• SMART room – Sensory Motor Arousal Regulation Therapy
• Theraplay
• Group Therapy
• Yoga for client and family
• Nurture groups
• Family Time sessions
• ART – Accelerated Resolution Therapy for trauma, symptoms, and attachment for both parent and children
• Art and Music Therapy
• Sand Therapy
• Therapeutic Games
• Child-focused Play Therapy with Parent Involvement
• Parent Observing of Child-focused Play Therapy Session via One-way Mirror
• Parent leading Child-focused Play Therapy Session via ear pods directed by therapist
• Parent Check-in with Therapist
• Phase out work with sessions in the client’s home – therapist is virtually assisting

Resources

• Therapeutic Games
• Therapeutic Books and Workbooks
• Specialized Stickers
• Therapeutic Puzzles
• Personalized Blankets 
• Snacks and Water
• Bubble Gum
• Choice of Therapy Rooms:  Children have the opportunity to use two different rooms during one session – Play Therapy room and SMART room OR the child can use a Sensory Play Therapy room. See website for photos.

Referrals for Further Support

• Help Me Grow
• Occupational Therapy
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Neuropsychological Evaluations
• Parent Support Groups
• MN Adopt