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Paints and pastels can be used in art therapy at the Rappahannock Area Council Against Sexual Assault.
Kelly Heartland, an art therapy intern at Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault, uses play and art to help clients deal with emotions. |
BY AMY FLOWERS UMBLE
A dollhouse sits near two small boxes filled with sand. Plastic tubs hold dolls, plastic animals and tiny metal cars.
Shelves contain brushes, pencils, paints, markers and crayons.
The small room, with its child-size table and chairs, its colorful toys and puppets, seems an ideal place to play.
And a bit out of place at the Rappahannock Area Council Against Sexual Assault.
But the room provides a safe place for children to re-create traumatic events, to ease stress and to recover from abuse.
Late last year, the agency expanded its Fredericksburg offices off U.S. 1.
Since RCASA's recent expansion, the group can help more children in its play therapy center. Across the hall, more adults use art therapy techniques, group counseling and individual therapy.
For years, RCASA offered basic services: showing up at the hospital to help victims, initial therapy and support groups.
But after eight sessions, therapists had to refer clients to local therapists. Many had waiting lists. Few had training in dealing with traumatic incidents such as rape and other violent crime.
RCASA recently hired a therapist who helps victims of trauma and has two interns training to provide specialized trauma therapy.
"We can see most everyone now," said Beth Parker, the licensed clinician who oversees the office. "It's nothing short of a miracle what we can offer to these clients."
RCASA holds trauma support groups, which take the traditional group to another level. The trauma process is a complex one, Parker said.
"There is a talk part and there is a written part and there is an art part and there is a guided imagery part," she said.
RCASA expanded both office space and staff late last year. Employees and volunteers knocked down walls, moved furniture and painted to allow more services there.
"There was no budget expansion," said Samantha Bergeron, RCASA program assistant.
The group has seen its requests for help rise and donations shrink over the past few months. But staff members say they remain committed to offering more services.
"We're stretched thinner but we're dedicated," Parker said.
Amy Flowers Umble: 540/735-1973
Email: aumble@freelancestar.com
For help or to donate, contact the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault at 540/371-6771. |
Counselors at the Rappahannock Council Against Sexual Assault were especially happy to offer more play therapy because this help is often hard to find. Another area agency, Catholic Charities, recently opened a colorful play therapy center. That room also offers art supplies, dolls, puppets and child-size furniture. Therapists there say the child-centered technique offers better opportunities for healing. For details, call the Fredericksburg office of Catholic Charities at 540/371-1124. --Amy Flowers Umble |
