Getting Started
Welcome to Little House Expressive Arts Therapy!
We are so excited to have you and your child as part of our community! This onboarding guide is designed to help you understand our values, processes, and expectations to ensure a smooth and supportive experience for both you and your child.
Mission & Values
We believe in the transformative power of creativity. Our mission is to provide a safe and nurturing space where children and adolescents can explore their emotions, build resilience, and foster self-expression through various art forms and play.
Core values:
Creativity– Encouraging self-expression through diverse artistic modalities and play.
Compassion– Fostering a supportive and non-judgmental environment.
Collaboration– Working alongside families, caregivers, and other professionals/community resources to best support kiddos.
Inclusivity– Honoring diverse backgrounds, experiences, and abilities.
Growth– Encouraging ongoing learning and self-development for kiddos and their families.
Getting Started
Initial Consultation: Schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to discuss your child’s needs and determine if we’re the right fit.
Insurance: If you are utilizing your out-of-network benefits, contact your insurance company directly to verify that we are an approved provider. Learn more about what questions to ask here.
Intake Forms: Complete all required paperwork sent via SimplePractice. Reach out to us with any questions!
Parent/Caregiver Intake: We’ll meet for a session (without kiddo present) to discuss your concerns, gather background information, and explore potential goals for your child’s therapy.
First Sessions: The first few sessions focus on building rapport with your child and introducing creative processes tailored to their needs.
Ongoing Sessions: Your child attends regularly scheduled sessions and we check in to see how things are going at home, school, and their community. If you ever need to reschedule a session, let me know and I’ll reach out with my availability.
Communication
I love partnering with you in your child’s therapy journey, and one of the best ways to do that is through dedicated check-ins. It’s important that we connect about how things are going, share updates, and make sure we’re on the same page in supporting your child.
How often?: We recommend a check-in every 6-8 weeks. This may differ depending on your child's needs, age, and stage in therapy. We can talk together as to what makes sense for your family.
Confidentiality: Confidentiality is an important part of therapy, meaning what your child shares in session is private (with a few exceptions for safety), though we may share general themes or progress updates with you to help support your child. We’ll always reach out if there is a safety concern.
Why separate sessions/messaging?: While it may feel natural to chat right after your child’s appointment, that isn’t always possible-or best-for them. Children need privacy and ownership in their therapy, and the transition at the end of a session is often an important part of their process. Parent/Caregiver conversations also usually need more time and space than a quick hallway update allows.
Checking in all together: Sometimes it’s helpful to check in with parents/caregiver, child, and a therapist all together. These conversations can be powerful and supportive, but we want to be intentional about when and how we do them so that they feel safe and constructive for your child. If there’s something your child needs support bringing up in session, sending us a message beforehand is very helpful. Together, we can plan how to introduce it in a supportive way-whether by making space at the beginning of a session, ending early to check in all together, or scheduling a dedicated family session. Giving your child notice ahead of these conversations also helps them feel prepared and supported as they explore more difficult topics.
How to schedule?: We’ve set things up in SimplePractice so you can easily book a parent/caregiver session at a time that works for you.
SimplePractice
We communicate confidential information via the SimplePractice client portal. There is also an app you can also download for your phone. For scheduling or other non-confidential matters, email is just fine!
If there is an office announcement/update, you will receive a text on your phone.
Why We Do Not Typically Offer Bi-Weekly Sessions at the Beginning of Care
Consistency is an important part of expressive arts therapy. Weekly sessions provide a predictable rhythm that supports emotional regulation, strengthens the therapeutic relationship, and allows children to build on new skills and experiences from week to week. Longer gaps between sessions can make it more difficult to maintain momentum and continue progressing toward therapy goals.
For this reason, we recommend beginning with weekly sessions whenever possible to provide the strongest foundation for growth.
As therapy progresses, your child may be ready to transition to bi-weekly sessions. We reserve specific appointment times for bi-weekly scheduling. If those openings are available or if bi-weekly sessions are needed for accessibility reasons, we can discuss whether that option is a good fit for your family.
Bi-weekly sessions are also a helpful step when preparing to move to monthly/as-needed sessions or pause therapy. For many children, gradually moving from weekly to bi-weekly sessions before moving to monthly or as-needed support creates a smoother, more successful transition. In my experience, because of school breaks, holidays, illnesses, and other scheduling conflicts, bi-weekly appointments often naturally become monthly, which is why we typically recommend establishing a strong foundation with weekly therapy before reducing the frequency of sessions.
Helpful Language for Drop-Off & Pick-Up
Many parents instinctively say, "Have fun!" at drop-off, which can be an important goal for some kiddos! However, sometimes themes in play and art-making are not always fun to explore. To help your kiddo be open to any possibility that may arise for them in session, here are some alternative phrases to help set the tone:
When Dropping Off:
A quick hug and “I’ll see you soon!”
“I hope you make whatever you need to make today.”
“You are in a safe space to explore whatever is on your mind.”
“I’ll be right here when you’re done.”
When Picking Up:
“I’m happy to see you!”
“Wow, you were so brave today. You worked through a lot.”
“It looks like you made art. Do you want to tell me about it later?”
“I hope this was a helpful space for you today."
“Would you like to take a moment before we transition back to the rest of the day?"
“What would you like to do with your art when we get home?”
“You don’t have to talk about anything before you’re ready. I’m here when or if you want to.”
“If anything from your session is still on your mind later, I’m happy to listen.”
“Would you like a quiet ride home or to chat for a bit?”
“How does your heart feel after today’s session?”
Offer a hug and say, “I love you.”
Using open-ended language helps children understand that therapy is a space for growth and emotional work, not just fun or play. Also, it’s important honor your child’s privacy and not share your child’s artwork on social media or with others. Just like in talk therapy, their artwork and play is their language.
Policies & Procedures
Here is the link to our Group Professional Disclosure Statement. Please reach out with any questions you may have!
Around the Office
Snacks are available in the kitchen behind the cabinet labeled "snacks." If your kiddo needs a little pick-me-up, there’s a box labeled “therapy snacks” just for them!
Tea, seltzers, and water are available in the waiting room. The wifi password is above the mini fridge.
Menstrual supplies are available in the bathroom for kids and teens who may need them.
Little House is a PORCH pick-up spot! PORCH is a local nonprofit that provides fresh and nonperishable food to families facing food insecurity. Learn more here.
We also partner with the Diaper Bank of NC! Donations of diapers, formula, period products, and adult incontinence supplies are welcome.Learn more here.
Contact & Support
If you have any questions or need additional support, please reach out!
Link to the SimplePractice Client Portal
📍 133 E King St. Hillsborough, NC 27278
📞 984.230.3565
📧 contact@littlehouseartstherapy.com
🌐 www.littlehouseartstherapy.com