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A Look at Therapies Utilized at Camp Phoenix

Art, yoga, equine, and outdoor therapies provide children with a developmentally appropriate means to express and process emotions non-verbally, promoting healing and empowerment. The documented benefits of these therapies include decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression and increased self-esteem and coping skills. Each of these therapies help youth express and process their thoughts and emotions, overcome fears, build trust, and increase feelings of self-worth. 

Camp Phoenix --the Phoenix Center's therapeutic summer camp-- utilizes these four types of therapy to promote mental and physical health in the participating children. 

For teens in particular, our programming provides a safe and welcoming place to go during the summer and on weekends, times when youth are most vulnerable to crime and unsafe behavior. In all of our programs, children and teens are taught to navigate and express challenging emotions in healthy, safe ways and focus on positive and forward-looking goals in school and in life.

Camp Phoenix sessions are directed by licensed therapists, staffed by masters level social work and counseling Interns, and utilize evidence-based therapies in order to provide campers with the best opportunities for learning and growth. Below is an overview of the research and benefits of the interventions and modalities that comprise our innovative therapeutic camp curriculum.

• Trauma-Informed Care: Trauma affects emotional and cognitive development and physically alters the brain. Children often cannot process trauma verbally because their language skills are still developing.  Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Art Therapy, and animal-assisted therapies (equine therapy) stimulate both hemispheres of the brain, which allow children to process traumatic experiences, stimulate positive emotions and behaviors, and form new neural pathways.[1]
• Art Therapy utilizes a variety of fine art materials, allowing youth to express and process their thoughts and feelings in an age appropriate manner.[4]
• Yoga teaches children how to focus on and control their breathing and thoughts, which decreases the release of cortisol (the stress hormone), while increasing both focus and relaxation.  Research has demonstrated decreased symptoms of anxiety and depression after yoga practice on MRI brain scans (Journal of Alternative and Complimentary Medicine, May 2007).[5]^,[6]
• Equine Therapy promotes confidence and self-esteem while learning the importance of boundaries, body language, and communication.[7] 
• Outdoor Therapy combines the restorative power of nature with ropes challenge course activities and experiential therapies, which promote healthy communication, team work, overcoming personal fears and obstacles and increasing self-esteem and self-efficacy.[8]

Campers wearing masks created during an art therapy group, Camp Phoenix 2012

About Art Therapy

The masks shown here were created during Camp Phoenix sessions during the summer of 2012 during an art therapy group.  Masks typically portray one of the following:

1) The "mask" worn in daily life, the part of yourself you show the outside world;

2) The interior (reverse side of the mask) - how you feel on the inside, the part of yourself not shown often or at all to the outside world;

3) Or, one half of the mask depicts how you truly feel on the inside and the other half is the mask you wear in everyday life.

On the left - how camper feels on the inside On the right - "mask" camper wears in the outside world

Ready for the high ropes challenge course (2012)!

Wish List

• Children's sized table and chairs (gently used or new): http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/40153703/
• Journals (blank, unlined) or sketchbooks for children in counseling to use at home
• Relaxation music CDs (Sound Healing by Steven Halpern) for children in counseling to use at home
• Healthy snacks for our therapeutic after school programs
• Fund a need online:

$5 donation - provides art materials  

$10 donation - provides healthy snacks  

$30 donation - provides 3 yoga mats   

$100 - Sponsor our play therapy or counseling services  

$500 - Sponsor 1 therapeutic camp session 

To help fund a need above, please click here.  Donations in any amount are needed and greatly appreciated.  Thank you for partnering with us to ensure that our services are available at no cost to children and families in need.  If you have donated recently, we appreciate your continued and generous support.  Thank you.

For more information about our wish list items, please call Sarah at 830.613.7230.

To believe in a child is to believe in the future. 
 Supply the children

with the tools and knowledge

 to overcome their obstacles. 
 Impact in each child the desire to fulfill his or her dream.

 ~Henry James

 

 "I wish I could live here."