Family Support Services, LLC

04/23/2026

PLAY THERAPY IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION

What are evidence-based practices?

Evidence-based practices are proven effective through rigorous research and integrated with professional expertise and client or patient preferences.

Evidence-based practices (EBPs) refer to skills, techniques, or strategies that have been validated through experimental research or large-scale studies to produce reliable outcomes in a specific field, such as counseling. EBPs rely on empirical evidence to ensure effectiveness and improve outcomes.
Vanderbilt University

Key Components
EBPs typically integrate three essential elements:
Best Available Research Evidence – High-quality studies, systematic reviews, or randomized controlled trials that demonstrate the effectiveness of a practice or intervention.

Professional Expertise – The clinician’s or practitioner’s skills, experience, and judgment in applying the evidence to real-world situations.

Client or Patient Preferences – Individual values, needs, and circumstances that influence how interventions are implemented and tailored.

This integration ensures that decisions are both scientifically grounded and personalized, enhancing the likelihood of successful outcomes.

Mental Health (psychologist, psychoanalyst, therapist)

04/19/2026

Signs a child may need therapy:
If your child is having problems in multiple areas of their life, such as home and school, that could indicate that something is going on that may warrant your attention.

If your child has a significant change in sleep habits, hygiene or appetite it may indicated something is bothering them.

If your child has low self-esteem and feels bad about themself they may benefit from therapy.

If your child has repetitive, self-destructive behaviors it can be a sign of anxiety or distress. Examples include hair-pulling or skin-picking.

If your child worries excessively and can’t control it, it could be that they need help learning new strategies to reign this in. Sometimes anxiety can lead to physical symptoms as well, such as stomach aches, headaches, etc that aren't related to a medical cause.

If your child becomes withdrawn or if they stop expressing interest in social or extracurricular activities they used to enjoy it could be a sign of depression.

If your child makes distressing comments take your child seriously. if they’re making statements like, “I wish I weren’t here,” or Comments such as “Nobody would care if I wasn't here.” The same goes for conversations about self-harm of any kind.

If your child unusually defiant or aggressive, persistently short-fused or quick to temper, resulting in bullying, fighting or threatening other people — yourself included — that’s a sign that you may be dealing with something more serious.

Engaging in any kind of self-harm is a sign your child needs professional help. If you learn that your child’s been cutting, throwing up after meals (bulimia), misusing substances or injuring themselves in another way, seek assistance.

If your child has experienced significant life changes such as parental divorce, death of a close family member, or a change in a primary attachment figure therapy is beneficial to help children navigate and cope with these changes.

If your child has been through a traumatic event such as abuse, neglect, witnessing domestic violence, serious car accident, or tragedy, therapy is warranted.

Mental Health (psychologist, psychoanalyst, therapist)

04/17/2026

The new website is live!!! So excited. Please check it out!

Mental Health (psychologist, psychoanalyst, therapist)

04/16/2026

Check out the following resources regarding evidence-based interventions in child therapy:

https://evidencebasedchildtherapy.com/meta-analyses-reviews/

https://preventionservices.acf.hhs.gov/programs/767/show

Bringing it all together! When researchers look at the whole of play therapy research, what are they finding? This page is dedicated to statistical and

04/15/2026

*PARKING AT NEW HUNTSVILLE OFFICE*
The easiest place to park for entrance to our office is in the back of the complex. If you go north on Wynn, get in the left turn lane and pull in to the back of the complex. There is easy entrance directly to our office from there and you will see our sign on the back of the building.
4820 University Drive NW
Suite 13
Huntsville AL 35816
(Mission Square Business Condos-corner of University and Wynn)

04/14/2026

Blessed to be celebrating 25 years in business in May!
“Every child you encounter is a divine appointment.”
Wess Stafford

04/12/2026

Our new Huntsville location is only 10 minutes from our prior location and provides a larger, private and newly remodeled setting.
4810 University Drive NW
Suite 13
Huntsville, AL 35816
256.340.9233

04/08/2026

I am so excited for our new website to launch! Click the link for a sneak peek!
https://therevivalstudioco.wixstudio.com/familyss

04/05/2026

So excited about our grand opening Monday, April 6, at our new Huntsville location.
4820 University Drive NW
Suite 13
Huntsville, AL 35816
256.340.9233

03/28/2026

03/26/2026

Congratulations on 5 years employment at Family Support Services, LLC Lauren Miller! You are a Blessing to have!

03/26/2026

I need help! Do you prefer #1 (blue letters) or #2 (white letters)