We know arranging therapy and finding group support for siblings and self-advocates is daunting and confusing. We're here to help.
About the program
Who: Samantha Childs, MS, CCLS (Child Life Specialist) from Kids Cope Baltimore
What: Samantha has agreed to reserve individual appointments every month to serve CDSPG youth-aged siblings and/or self-advocates of any age. Samantha will provide therapeutic intervention, discussion, and resource guidance/connection.
Samantha will also lead sibling groups and a Grief & Loss group for CDSPG families.
Why: CDSPG recognizes that arranging therapy, finding a therapist, and/or finding a support group can be daunting and confusing. Further, we know that it’s sometimes best to have a professional leading and facilitating the conversation, and listening for warning signs.
CDSPG is here to help. We want to reduce the barriers to good mental health supportive care. We will subsidize 75%- 100% of the cost:
Of individual therapy - TWO (2) virtual or in-person (your home) visits with Samantha to help your family build a plan, coping mechanisms, get connected with an ongoing therapist, etc.
Of group support…
A. Sibling groups meet monthly
B. Grief & Loss group meets quarterly
Cost:
Individual Therapy: A $50 fee covers two appointments. Confidential scholarships are available - email director@cdspg.org to request support, no questions asked.
Groups: $5 suggested donation for a series or free - your choice, select what’s best for your family.
How:
For individual appointments for youth siblings or self-advocates, visit: https://bit.ly/cdspgtherapyprogram
Password: CDSPG
For group therapeutic activities, register and see the details at:
From the American Psychological Association:
How do you know if therapy is needed?
Two general guidelines can be helpful when considering whether you or someone you love could benefit from therapy. First, is the problem distressing? And second, is it interfering with some aspect of life?
When thinking about distress, here are some issues to consider:
Do you or someone close to you spend some amount of time every week thinking about the problem?Is the problem embarrassing, to the point that you want to hide from others?Over the past few months, has the problem reduced your quality of life?When thinking about interference, some other issues may deserve consideration:
Does the problem take up considerable time (e.g., more than an hour per day)?Have you curtailed your work or educational ambitions because of the problem?Are you rearranging your lifestyle to accommodate the problem?
A “yes” response to any of these questions suggests that you might wish to consider seeking professional help.
Source: https://www.apa.org/ptsd-guideline/patients-and-families/seeking-therapy
