PREMASTER’S TRAINEESHIP

Early Childhood Therapy Program in a Preschool Setting

The Early Childhood Therapy Program in a Preschool Setting is a specialized training for therapists who want to work with young children and their families. This program serves children ages 2-5 in the San Fernando Valley. Children and their families will receive services at private preschools. Therapists will be providing counseling in a preschool setting. Some of the private preschools are located in the Latino/Hispanic community of the San Fernando Valley. While therapy with the children, and consultation with staff and faculty is provided in English, many of the parents are monolingual, therefore, our services in these preschools are offered in both English and Spanish.

The therapists in this system-based child and family therapy program will be trained in basic assessment and interventions for families with children. The training introduces the therapist to child therapy in the preschool classroom, using Play Therapy and Social Skills in assessment and intervention. As a part of providing services to the child, the therapist may also provide individual and couples therapy for the parents. Attention to developmental milestones from birth to five, cultural awareness, family strengths and parenting skills are emphasized. Therapists will also have the opportunity of providing parenting classes and assisting in Mommy and Me classes.

Participants will receive weekly trainings in various modalities including family systems, postmodern and cognitive behavioral therapy as well as psychosocial assessment, and DSM diagnosis. There will be special emphasis on attachment and early child development, along with individual and couples therapy. Group supervision will be provided, with ongoing onsite consultation. This program provides children and family hours for MFT and MFT/Art Therapy students.

Meeting Times:
Students meet on Mondays (2:00 PM-5:00 PM) for training and supervision. Therapists see children and families at preschool locations during the week. Therapists will be asked to go to their preschool once a week, on the same day each week, for five hours. Two days a week may also be provided for those students who may be wanting more hours and an extra unit of supervision.

Openings Available: Up to 8

Program Director and Clinical Supervisor:
Robin Graham, MA, LMFT
Phone: 323-533-8227
Email: rgraham@pgu.edu