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Child therapist Laura joins us to explore the concerning shortage of therapists willing to work with children, despite growing mental health needs among youth populations.
• Laura explains how even in therapy-rich Los Angeles, there's a significant gap in child therapy services
• Many clinicians avoid working with children due to fear, lack of proper training, or hesitation about parental dynamics
• Educational programs often lack comprehensive child therapy training, creating knowledge gaps for new therapists
• Quality supervision specifically for child therapy is increasingly hard to find
• Becoming credentialed as a Registered Play Therapist involves significant barriers including time and financial investment
• Despite challenges, working with children offers unique rewards like becoming a stabilizing force during difficult times
• Child therapy serves as preventative mental healthcare, potentially reducing adult therapy needs later
• Innovative solutions like loan forgiveness programs are emerging to incentivize therapists to work with children
• Laura emphasizes the importance of reconnecting with play for therapists of all specialties
• The podcast hosts encourage support for Laura's educational efforts through gift cards for therapeutic supplies
Looking to support child therapy in your community? Consider donating supplies to local child therapists, advocating for better compensation for mental health professionals, or exploring play therapy for children in your life.
A Hero's Welcome Podcast © Maria Laquerre-Diego & Liliana Baylon