PRLog - Sep 05, 2013 - PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. -- Alex was born in Russian on October 19th, 2002. Records indicate that his birth mother had an affinity for vodka and Alex was placed in an orphanage only one month after his birth. He stayed in the orphanage until July, 2005. In the first two years of his life, Alex did not receive the proper healthcare, nutrition, learning, nurturing or stimulation critical for positive development. In July 2005, Alex was adopted and came to live with his forever family in Palm Beach Gardens. He had no language skills, hearing problems due to chronic ear infections, and developmental problems due to neglect. His new parents were at a total loss. They did not know where to get the best early intervention and therapies Alex desperately needed, after he had been given an alphabet soup of diagnoses…PTSD, OCD, ADHD, developmental delays and sensory processing disorder.
Fortunately, in addition to speech and language therapy, Alex’s parents were able to find a Play Therapist with clinical expertise in early childhood through the Center for Child Counseling, then known as All ‘Bout Children. Initially, Alex did not know how to play. He hid food in his room. He lined his shoes in neat rows. All behaviors related to his experiences at the orphanage…hunger, deprivation and social isolation. As Alex started to engage in play, his parents learned a lot about his early life experiences…how he would line up the baby dolls in a row to sleep, eerily reminiscent of the rows of babies in the orphanage. Alex learned social skills through Play Therapy, individually and in group sessions with other young children. He learned how to engage socially and interact. Play Therapy taught Alex’s parents how to communicate with him and nurture his emotional development. They learned parenting techniques that they continue to use today.
Alex is almost 11 years old now. He continues to get speech and language therapy at school and takes medication for ADHD. As he enters his pre-teen years, Alex and his parents continue to see a therapist through the Center for Child Counseling’s Child and Family Center to help with parenting techniques, ADHD symptoms, and general social-emotional well-being. Alex is on track academically, has made tremendous progress socially, and is thriving in every way a child his age should. He plays on a travel soccer team, loves to read, and builds Legos with the precision of an engineer.
Founded in 1999, the Center for Child Counseling’s focuses on helping the youngest children impacted by abuse and trauma in our community. “At the Center, we have developed programs and expertise that is grounded in research about early brain development and trauma. Between the age of birth and five, most brain development occurs and trauma can lead to disruption that impacts functioning throughout the lifespan. We focus on promoting healthy functioning early in life, which research tells us decreases an array of problems later in life,” states Renée Layman, the Center’s Chief Executive Officer. Much of this work is done through Play Therapy. “Play is the child’s language and their most powerful tool for communicating and making sense of their world, so our work with young children focuses on healing through play, allowing children to work through trauma in a safe environment.”
"We realized very quickly after Alex came home that we needed help. The Center has provided invaluable help, support and guidance to us over the last 8 years,” says Alex’s mother, Jennifer Hardiman. “Our family is such a strong family unit today in large part because of the staff at the Center." Jennifer believes that his progress is a testament to the early intervention services that he received through the Center. “We were able to provide the nurturing and support he needed, guided by an expert in early childhood development and trauma.”
About the Center for Child Counseling
The Center for Child Counseling, Inc. is a nonprofit organization serving Palm Beach County since 1999. The Center strives to strengthen and empower children and families through early intervention and treatment services that support their social-emotional wellness and growth.
The Center specializes in early childhood, with a team of expert staff with advanced training and certification in Play Therapy, Infant Mental Health, Child-Parent Psychotherapy, Filial Therapy, and the Triple P© Parenting Program. These services allow young children and caregivers to reach their full potential. Through the Center’s Institute for Clinical Training, the Center offers extensive training on Social and Emotional Wellness for Young Children, Infant Mental Health, Play Therapy, Impact of Trauma on Brain Development for at-risk populations and other related topics to mental health professionals throughout Palm Beach County.
For questions about the Center for Child Counseling please contact info@centerforchildcounseling.org or call 561-244-9499. For more information about programs and donor opportunities, visit www.centerforchildcounseling.org.
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Center for Child Counseling
Photos Attached/Cutlines:
TheHardimanFamily.JPG
The Hardiman Family of Palm Beach Gardens. Jennifer Hardiman is the owner of Fabuluxe Events in Palm Beach Gardens.
Center for Child Counseling, Inc.
Contact: Renée Layman, Chief Executive Officer
Email: renee@centerforchildcounseling.org
Telephone: 561-244-9499 Ext. 1
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Center for Child Counseling - Alex's Story
September 05, 2013 at 12:20 PM EDT
