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Chris Downs

Chris Downs

(she/her)

LCSW
24 years of experience

Hi, I am a licensed clinical social worker based in Philadelphia, PA who has worked with children, teens and families for over twenty years. I look forward to talking with you. Please sign up for a free 15 minute consultation call so I can hear your concerns and you can learn how I practice. You may have to select a 30 minute window. Grow is still working out kinks in their system to feel free to contact me if you have questions. My online schedule is set up for you to choose a free 15-30 minute consultation call. From there, we will schedule to meet in person at my office at 244 W Schoolhouse Lane, Phila PA 19144. Children do best when we are in person in my office. We can do parenting sessions virtually. Read on to learn more about me.

What can clients expect to take away from sessions with you?

For the first session I meet in person with your family. I encourage parents to bring other children to this appointment but it's not required. We will talk about what your family enjoys together and the strengths of your children. We will talk briefly about the hard things that are happening or happened. The goal of this session is for you and your child/children to get to know me. If your children are worried about coming please tell them that I have toys and art and things for them to do when they get in my office. They don't have to talk about anything they don't want to talk about. There is a brief explanation to the children as to what the therapeutic process will look like. It's an opportunity for other children/teens in the family to understand therapy as a support and a safe place for communication. The goal is to frame the child/teen's therapy as something from which everyone in the family can learn and grow. The second session can be virtual with parents/caregivers to gather additional information. For the 3rd session forward any sessions with your child will be in person at my office.

Explain to clients what areas you feel are your biggest strengths.

Parenting can be challenging. We aren't given a manual on how it works, and breakdowns within the family can make things even harder when a child is struggling. I am skilled at helping parents listen to children and teens, and children and teens listen to parents. When children/teens understand that I and their caregivers are there to help, their play deepens and they can resolve hard things within themselves. Play therapy is a unique way of speaking a child's language to provide them with the means to heal. Children communicate things in play that may be too hard to say out loud and can help them feel grounded as they do the hard work of healing.

Describe the client(s) you are best positioned to serve.

I love working with children/teens and families to facilitate healing. I use play therapy and other creative modalities to work on what is hard (acting out behaviors, anxiety, depression, withdrawn behavior, experiences of trauma, oppression, and racism, changes in behavior that are concerning to the adults around them, neurodiverse diagnoses that can make being in the neurotypical world difficult for children, etc.). I weave what I learn from sessions with children and teens back into the family system. You, as their primary caregivers, are of greatest significance and support for children's healing. I am skilled at giving you tools to support your child/ren.

About Chris Downs

Identifies as

Specializes in

Serves ages

Licensed in

Accepts

Address

244 West School House Lane, Philadelphia, PA, USA

Appointments

Free consults, in Person

My treatment methods

Family Therapy

As your child/teen's parent or caregiver, you are the primary person in their life. The first few sessions include you, and together, we develop a treatment plan to best support your child/teen in healing. When there is a traumatic event or ongoing trauma, the adults work together to create a framework to talk about what happened. Sometimes, there isn't an easily identifiable event or events. I appreciate that children and teens find ways to communicate that something is wrong, even if they don't know what it is precisely or how to articulate it. They tell us this in behaviors that can include aggression, increased anger, self-harm, suicidal thoughts, increased sadness, losing interest in previously enjoyed activities, school refusal, etc. It's my job to help your child/teen develop internal resources to cope with what is happening and enhance family communication about the traumatic event or what is causing distress. I weave what occurs during the child/teen's time into family sessions. In the first session, we address what is and isn't confidential for children and teens related to my communication with parent/s. There will also be parent sessions for me to hear how things are going. In your child's relationship with you, healing has the greatest success. Ultimately, my goal is to reduce difficult behaviors, enhance positive coping skills, and strengthen family relationships.

Play Therapy

Play, art, and creative modalities in therapy, especially for children and teens, provide a safe and nonverbal space for expression, allowing young individuals to communicate their thoughts, feelings, and experiences in a way that feels natural to them. When someone close to us takes the time to truly listen and understand our feelings, it can make a world of difference in how we perceive and cope with our emotions. Similarly, when children and teens are given the opportunity to express themselves through play, art, and other creative means in therapy, they feel heard, validated, and understood. This can lead to a sense of relief, comfort, and empowerment, ultimately aiding in their healing process. As a therapist using these modalities, my role is to observe and engage in their play by providing a supportive and empathetic presence. I create a safe environment where young individuals feel encouraged to explore and express themselves authentically.