Crossroads Family Counseling Center

Crossroads Family Counseling Center (CFCC) is a premier counseling center for children, adolescents, adults, and families, specializing in play therapy and expressive therapies. It is on a mission to nurture social, emotional, and behavioral needs and help people navigate life’s difficulties.

“We are often entrusted by families to help foster stronger connections between them and their children. We strive to assist families in slowing down and dedicating quality time to spend together,” says Jenni Showalter, Clinical Director CFCC. “We focus on developing children and families’ communication and social emotional skills to strengthen their relationships.”

To ensure the right clinician is assigned, CFCC starts its assessment process from the beginning of an intake call. Since each clinician has a different set of skills, specialty areas, experience and uses different modalities of therapy, it is important to find the right match between client and clinician for the best therapeutic outcome.

CFCC places a high value on the role of family and other individuals involved in a child’s life during therapy. To enhance the effectiveness of treatment, they form a support group composed of family members and other individuals associated with the child. Emotional expression is often a challenge for adults and even harder for children. This is where play therapy can step up and be a way for catharsis to articulate emotions.

“Play is more than just entertainment; it is the language of children. It is a natural way for them to communicate and explore emotions, thoughts, and experiences. By observing a child’s play, we gain insights into their world and provide support as needed,” says Sheri Mitschelen, Owner, CFCC.

Play therapy is a form of psychotherapy primarily for children. Through the medium of play, children are encouraged to communicate their emotions using toys. This calls for a play therapist to create a safe and comfortable environment that helps children express themselves. It involves a playroom with age-appropriate toys, allowing the child to play freely. Children articulate their emotions through play, which helps therapists evaluate their underlying struggles.

For instance, a five-year-old child going through certain treatments showed anxiety. The parents were unable to figure out the underlying cause and approached CFCC. The therapists engaged the child in specific play activities. It was revealed that the child was anxious about surgery and played out a surgery scene in the playroom, giving the therapist insight into his emotions and fears. This helped the parents understand their child’s anxiety and assist him in processing his emotions.

CFCC tailors its approach depending on a child’s age and needs. The therapy starts with an initial parent intake session followed by the child’s therapy session. They conduct three to four sessions with the child alone, and then they meet with the parents to coordinate a treatment plan for future sessions.

When it comes to teenagers, CFCC adopts a more flexible therapy approach based on their individual needs. Most teenagers have difficulty expressing their emotions, which is quite challenging to overcome. CFCC, recognizing this, takes appropriate steps to ensure both teenagers and parents feel heard and seen. It employs creative and expressive interventions like art, music, and dance along with cognitive behavioral and dialectical behavior therapy to help teenagers cope with emotional, relationship, or behavioral problems.

One of the strengths of CFCC is how it values professional training and maintains skill levels. It does not simply focus on providing training for its team but for the therapist community as well. In addition, it ensures clinicians feel supported, included, and up-to-date with the required skills.

Sheri, with over three decades of experience, has developed CFCC into a place where clinicians are encouraged to continuously develop their skills and knowledge. This commitment to training and professional development extends beyond improving the skills of her team to providing children and families with the best possible care.