Spilyay Tyrooo, Warm Springs, Oregon Page 5 August 2, 2 0 0 7 Community Counseling Center helping children in need B y L e slie M itts Spilyay Tymoo \ In a room with brightly col­ ored handprints covering the walls and toys filling countless j shelves, therapy might not be the first thing that comes to mind. ' But each hand print was made by a child client at Community 1 Counseling claiming this room as their own. Toys, games and art supplies ‘ are the tools o f therapy for a ' young child entering Community ’ Counseling. J “Children naturally use play to communicate their feelings, emotions and thoughts about . the world around them,” said to 1 Suzan Leter, child therapist. - “Play therapy, art therapy, and ■ sand tray are all child friendly techniques used by therapists across the country to assist chil­ dren in the counseling process i to understand their own feel- 1 ings, reactions, and behaviors in , response to the events o f their young lives.” A dolescents w ho atten d C om m unity C ounseling are more skilled at expressing them­ selves and are comfortable in ' talking about their ideas and is­ sues with their therapist in “talk­ ing therapy.” Tribal Community Counsel­ ing employs two children’s psy­ chotherapists, Suzanne “Suzan” Leter, and Don Schroeder, both with 20 years experience each, working as counselors with chil­ dren. In addition, Dr. Loye Ryan, PhD is a consulting Psy­ chologist who travels to Warm Springs every other week and sees clients in a variety o f ca­ pacities. Marcella Hall is the Adolescent drug and alcohol counselor for teens. The counselors see children and adolescents spanning from age 2 to teenagers age 18. Children who seek therapy with Community Counseling have many different types o f issues that they need help deal­ ing with such as divorce in their family, grief, transitions, prob­ lems adjusting to school and making friends, bullying, issues with nightmares and fears, trau­ matic events, conflicts with par­ ents and behavior problems. D o n Schroeder suggests, “Adolescents struggle with how to be themselves and still make YOUTH LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE Apologies August 9-10,2007 9:00 a.m. I am sorry I broke tribal also would like to apologize to him in the leg. To the young­ law on June 6, 2007 by driv­ Nettie and her family for my sters, don’t drink and hunt. ing under the influence o f in­ actions. And I will make every It is not a good mix. I would toxicants, reckless driving, effort to follow our laws in also like to say I am Sorry for reckless endangering and vio­ thefuture. Aaron Hunt. the disgrace to the Range and lating the liquor laws. Also by Ag Department I work un­ my drug paraphernalia and der the branch o f Natural committing injury to public R esources and- Fish and property by hitting a fire hy­ To whom it may concern, Game is under that branch drant. I apologize to my fam­ I would like to take this time and I knew I shouldn’t have ily ib r the shim1- my ¿actions yp yp fft th at I am sorry fQitbfeak- b een hunting.t i i u r i t is •aivery brought to our family naipe. in g the, law in D ecem her. I v a lu & te td -'ie k w n le a tn d d . Furtiier I apologize to the would also like to say that I am T hanks -fo r your time. tribes and the community. I sony to Johnnie L. for shooting Jim m y J. T ohet Jr. ] 1 - explore themselves through this thought-provoking process, in a fun and creative way. Teens often choose to go to the therapist offices and explore their issues in their own man­ ner. The offices are decorated to promote thoughtfulness and personal growth for the child and adolescent clients. Leter Said, “Kids love their therapy, sometimes it is even the highlight o f their week. Ending therapy is hard, because some kids get very attached to us.” Each therapist has their own way o f saying good-bye to their child clients. “I have each child make their own diploma, nam­ ing the things they changed about themselves during the .counseling process,” Leter said. ‘ “Then we put that diploma in a frame and they have that 'td keep acknowledging their hard work and change.” want a mentor or advocate as­ sisting them in dealing with peer and family relationships.^ ■ : The Counseling Building has several rpom s set up for Children’s counseling services. The play room w here play therapy takes place is huge. The room is equipped with a variety o f toys for imaginary play, role plays, puppet shows and games for learning com m unication skills. The cabinets hold a variety o f art supplies for traditional art therapy as well as making masks, personal flags, making life story books and other fun stuff. Community Counseling also has a sand-tray room which is a popular child therapy technique that is used by child therapists all over the country. In using this sand tray technique, the child chooses miniatures and places them in the white sand to Cre­ ate his personal World. Children good choices.” "K ids love their Counseling services are free to tribal children at Community therapy, sometimes i t is Counseling, housed in the large even the highlight o f brick building across from the elementary school.. Often chil­ their week . 99 d ren are referred from the middle school and high school or Early Childhood Education, although Warm Springs Elemen­ The child’s parent suggests their tary school does not make di­ own perspective on the child’s needs and possible goals for the rect referrals. Leter suggests, “Most of the child’s counseling process. Leter says, <