Oak Grove Youth and Family Therapy

We welcome you in taking this next step in your healing journey. Trauma treatment for children and adolescents is a process that includes the involvement of all of a child's social supports. We look forward to meeting and working with new clients, their caregivers and their teams as we all work together to achieve post-traumatic growth. Philosophy and Approach Katie’s therapeutic work is strongly rooted in a strengths based approach with a trauma informed perspective. She believes that all behavior holds meaning for each client, and it is imperative that clients are able to explore this meaning within an environment characterized by unconditional acceptance, trust and respect. She believes that post-traumatic growth occurs after a client is able to make meaning of their life experiences and reconnect to themselves and their community in a fulfilling way. Formal Education and Training Katie Kenney has completed a Masters of Social Work through Portland State University. Katie is a Board Certified Clinical Social Worker who is licensed through the Oregon Board of Licensed Clinical Social Workers and a Registered Play Therapist through the National Association for Play Therapy. She has completed 3 post-graduate certificate programs which include the nationally accredited Training for Adoption Competency (TAC) created by the Center for Adoption Support & Education (C.A.S.E), the Therapeutic Life Story Work Certificate presented by Richard Rose, the Director of Child Trauma Intervention Services, and the Adoptive and Foster Family Therapy Certificate Program through Portland State University. Throughout her career, Katie has engaged in extensive training regarding treatment for children, youth and families. Katie has engaged in training for modalities and theories including but not limited to ARC, SMART, TF-CBT, CBT Play Therapy, Autplay, Adlerian play therapy, DBT, ACT, Child Centered Play Therapy, Synergetic Play Therapy, Theraplay, Attachment Centered Play Therapy, Gestalt Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, Therapeutic Life Story Work, Family Play Therapy, Motivational Interviewing and others. Katie has also sought out extensive training in the needs of children and families exposed to trauma, cultural humility, therapeutic work with children with diverse sensory needs, and therapeutic work with children and families who are members of the queer community. What is Play Therapy? We're glad you asked! Though play therapy might not be used for all clients entering Oak Grove Youth and Family Therapy, there are many clients for whom it could be a great fit. The Association for Play Therapy defines play therapy as," the systematic use of a theoretical model to establish an interpersonal process wherein trained Play Therapists use the therapeutic powers of play to help clients prevent or resolve psychosocial difficulties and achieve optimal growth and development." If you would like to learn more about play therapy, please follow the links below. From the Play Therapy Association https://youtu.be/reJpo-GaopM?feature=shared TEDx Talk with Paris Goodyear-Brown MSSW, LCSW, RPTS: Trauma & Play Therapy: Holding Hard Stories https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbeS5iezIDA