A Team Approach to Therapy

Therapist Interns at Pfeiffer Institute Reach help their clients by using a team approach. These "teams" take several different formats.

First and foremost, the Therapist Intern has a supervisor who is licensed in Marriage and Family Therapy. The Therapist Intern and supervisor meet together at least once a week to discuss the Intern's clients - what has happened in the most recent session, the Intern's plans to help the client to change, and the Intern's relationship (aka alliance) with the client. The supervisor listens to the Intern's description, asks questions about the Intern and the client, and sometimes observes recordings of the session. All of this happens in the effort to (1) improve the Intern's skills and (2) benefit the client's therapy.

Second, the Therapist Intern has a group of peers who also hear about clients and sometimes watch sessions. With the supervisor as facilitator, this group also works to help the Therapist Intern think "outside the box" about how to be helpful to the client, and improve the Intern's therapy skills. Together, these teams (supervisor and peers) are why we tell prospective clients that they're getting multiple therapists for the price of one - and a low price at that!

The third "team" includes helpers outside of Reach who are involved with the client. These team members might be doctors, lawyers, teachers, or religious leaders who make up the client's support network. Therapist Interns collaborate with these outside team members (with the client's written permission) in order to coordinate the effort to help the client make changes. While this team isn't as directly involved in the actual therapy - indeed, they don't learn the particulars of what happens in session - they are integral parts of helping the client make and maintain progress in their lives.

This systems perspective (i.e., client is seen as part of a network rather than a lone entity) is part of what makes Marriage and Family Therapy different from other mental health fields. Its part of the benefit clients receive when they come to Pfeiffer Institute Reach. If you'd like to become part of our team - or if you'd like to learn more about us - please contact us today: 919-941-2900 or pfeiffer.reach@pfeiffer.edu.

Children's Social Skills Group - NEW DATE: September 19

Due to scheduling issues, the Children's Social Skills Group will now start Saturday, September 19, from 10:30-11:30am. The group will meet every other Saturday (9/19, 10/3, 10/17, 10/31, 11/14, 11/21). 

RSVP today! 919-941-2900 or Pfeiffer.Reach@Pfeiffer.edu

    The social skills group offered at Pfeiffer Institute Reach provides children ages 5-8 with the opportunity to increase social skills and peer interactions.  The group will sharpen social skills common for this age group, including meeting peers, maintaining friendships, and sharing.  In addition, the group will focus on helping children to respond appropriately to challenging social situations such as losing, apologizing, and identifying and managing emotions.  Children will learn how to identify emotions, and connect emotional experiences to physical feelings through interactive and visual activities.  The group will focus on helping children to manage difficult emotions, such as anger and fear, and connect emotional experiences to social interactions through role-plays and group member interaction. 

    The social skills group is a great opportunity for any child who is experiencing Autism, behavioral issues, ADHD, social delays, anxiety, or emotional dysregulation.  The purpose of the group is to help children learn appropriate social responses, interact well with peers, and regulate emotion.

    The group facilitators, Toni Nicolsen and Nicole McCarthy, are advanced graduate students and therapist interns at Pfeiffer Institute Reach.  Toni has previous experience leading social skills groups for children with behavioral disorders and social anxiety.  She enjoys the interactive nature of a group setting and helping children engage in social and emotional experiences through hands-on activities and building peer relationships.  Nicole has been working with young children for several years, and has experience helping children to improve their social/emotional skills.  She enjoys helping children to better understand their emotions, while giving them tools to cope and express themselves in positive ways.

RSVP today! 919-941-2900 or Pfeiffer.Reach@Pfeiffer.edu

Children's Social Skills Group (5-8 years old) - starts Saturday, August 22

Does your child have a difficult time making friends?  Sharing?     Identifying and expressing feelings?

Let Pfeiffer Institute Reach help put a little pep in your child’s back to school step!

This group will provide your child with skills needed to make and maintain friendships, and get along better with their peers!

Children ages 5 to 8 years old.

 Every other weekend starting on Saturday, August 22 from 10:30 AM-11:30 AM

RSVP today! Seating is limited! 919-941-2900