CACTS Counseling

CACTS Counseling CACTS Counseling specializes in treating children, adolescents, young adults, and their families.

02/11/2026

After a long day, kids need space to downshift, not more demands.

Quiet connection, predictable routines, and a little time before homework helps their nervous system reset so they can regulate, connect, and grow.

Big emotions at home = trust in action.

02/09/2026

Art supplies and paint give children a voice — even when words feel hard to find. 🎨

In play therapy, art supports emotional expression, regulation, and self-understanding. Kids often gravitate toward creative tools because they offer freedom, safety, and a way to release feelings through movement and color.

During art-making, therapists may notice:
• Emotional themes or patterns
• Energy levels (fast, slow, intense, careful)
• How kids handle mistakes or changes
• Regulation through repetitive movement

Sometimes healing happens in brushstrokes, not sentences.

Screens aren’t the problem —transitions are.When kids go from fast, bright, and exciting straight into expectations, the...
02/05/2026

Screens aren’t the problem —
transitions are.

When kids go from fast, bright, and exciting straight into expectations, their nervous system goes into fight-or-flight.

That’s when you see:
• yelling
• refusal
• tears
• shutdown

Try adding a connection + calming bridge instead of going straight from screen to rules.

Small shifts create big peace 💛

Save this for tonight’s screen-time transition
and follow for more calm parenting tools.

02/02/2026

Building bricks and Legos are more than a toy in the playroom. 🧱

For many kids, building provides a sense of calm, control, and focus — especially when emotions feel hard to explain. Lego play supports regulation, problem-solving, and persistence, even during quiet moments.

Sometimes the most meaningful work happens while hands are busy.

During Lego play, therapists may notice:
• How a child handles frustration or mistakes
• Persistence vs. avoidance
• Themes of control, repair, or rebuilding
• Regulation through repetitive movement

Kids don’t have “too many feelings.”They have feelings that are still learning how to be understood.Big emotions are par...
01/29/2026

Kids don’t have “too many feelings.”
They have feelings that are still learning how to be understood.

Big emotions are part of development — not something to fix, rush, or shame. When adults slow down and stay curious, kids learn they don’t have to carry their feelings alone.

01/26/2026

Puppets are one of the most loved tools in the playroom — and for good reason.

They give kids a safe way to express feelings without the pressure of talking directly. When a puppet speaks, kids often share things they don’t yet have words for on their own.

Through play, children practice communication, problem-solving, and emotional understanding — all while feeling in control and safe.

When children use puppets, therapists may notice:
• Themes about friendships or family
• Feelings that haven’t been spoken aloud
• Power dynamics and boundaries
• Coping strategies in action

Play is the language. Puppets help us listen.

01/23/2026

Play therapy can feel mysterious from the outside.
“Behind the Playroom Curtain” is a short series created to help parents understand how play supports emotional growth, regulation, and connection.

We’ll explore common therapy tools, why kids gravitate toward them, and what skills they quietly build through play.

Because understanding builds trust — and trust helps kids thrive.

01/20/2026

Today’s activity is called Snowball Worries
It’s a playful way to help kids release stress instead of carrying it in their bodies.

Have your child write or draw a worry, crumple it into a “snowball,” and toss it away.
Pair each toss with a deep breath to help the nervous system settle.

Worries don’t need to disappear — they just don’t have to stay stuck.

01/17/2026

When emotions feel shaken up, this simple winter visualization can help your child slow their breathing and calm their body.

You can practice this together anytime—before bed, after school, or during a meltdown.

❄️ Shake the snow → breathe in
❄️ Watch it settle → breathe out

Save this for when you need it.

Winter can overwhelm the senses. Cozy sensory supports can help kids settle, feel safe, and reconnect to their bodies.
01/14/2026

Winter can overwhelm the senses. Cozy sensory supports can help kids settle, feel safe, and reconnect to their bodies.

Simple routines can shift the entire mood of a morning. These three small changes bring more calm and less chaos.
01/11/2026

Simple routines can shift the entire mood of a morning. These three small changes bring more calm and less chaos.

Simple routines can shift the entire mood of a morning. These three small changes bring more calm and less chaos.
01/11/2026

Simple routines can shift the entire mood of a morning. These three small changes bring more calm and less chaos.

Address

24 Bronze Pointe North
Swansea, IL
62226

Telephone

+16182072547

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