Sarah Cross, MSW, LICSW
Joining Hands
Child and Family Counseling Services
At Joining Hands, we are passionate about helping children and families through their journey toward emotional healing and repairing relationships.
Joining Hands Counseling provides counseling services to children, adolescents, adults, and families to address issues of anger, depression, trauma, anxiety, grief and loss, sexual behavior problems. Joining Hands Counseling also provides services to children on the Autism Spectrum and provides services and support for infants, small children and their families. We offer a variety of non-traditional therapy techniques to assist each client in their personal journey toward resolution, healing and growth. Joining Hands Counseling gives the client the opportunity to choose an alternative means to traditional talk therapies throughout their counseling sessions, and allows the client a non-threatening means to reach their goals. Services include: Standard talk therapy; Sand tray therapy; Play therapy; Art therapy; Directive play therapy (especially for children on the autism spectrum); Infant mental health (DC 0-3); School consultations; Professional development.
Play Therapy
Play therapy is a therapeutic technique used with children ages 3 - 11. Free play interaction is the child's vocabulary, and is a limitless language of self-expression. There are no specific rules in play as there are in verbal communication, and thus, allows the child to feel safe doing what they do best...PLAY!!
The pace of the therapy is controlled by the child and allows the child to expand the expression of self. Play therapy provides healing from hurts and trauma, and breaks down tension. Play therapy is conducted in a safe environment, which allows the child to express a variety of emotions. Play therapy assists the child in learning to cope with anxieties and conflicts through their natural pastime of play.
Joining Hands utilizes Dr. Byron Norton's model of Experiential Play Therapy and Garry Landreth's Child-Centered model of play therapy. Both models are nondirective and work effectively with children.
Directive Play Therapy...
Joining Hands Counseling in Roseville specializes in Directive Play Therapy and counseling services for children who are diagnosed with: Developmental and Cognitive Delays; Autism; Asperger's Syndrome; PDD. Directive Play Therapy can assist the child in: Learning social skills; Managing anger; Expressing emotions; Identifying facial expressions; Increasing conversation skills; Understanding personal boundaries and space; Developing empathy. Parents are invited and strongly encouraged to participate in the Directive Play Therapy process.
Education/Training
Sarah graduated from the University of Missouri-Columbia with a Bachelor's degree in Psychology in 2001 and received her Master's in Social Work degree from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities in 2006. She is licensed by the state of Minnesota as a master's level clinical social worker and is currently working on certification with the Association of Play Therapy. Sarah believes strongly in maintaining the most current information and so attends many workshops and trainings, as well as presents at various trainings throughout the state and South Dakota.
Bio
Sarah Cross, MSW, LICSW is a master's level clinical social worker and has been working with children and adults for more than 12 years. Sarah has been trained in child-centered/Non-Directive play, Directive Play and Experiential Play therapy and utilizes these modes of treatment in working with children in various settings including individual and family sessions in private practice, in-home therapy; day treatment, therapuetic preschools, hospital settings, domestic violence shelters, as well as crisis response and stabilization services. She believes strongly in an attachment approach to working with children and families and works to partner with children and their parents in their journey towards healing.
Memberships
National Association of Social Workers
Association of Play Therapy
Payments Accepted
Cash, check, credit cards, third-party insurances: MA, Ucare, Preferred One, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Health Partners, Cigna, Medica, Aetna, Select Care, United Health Care. We also provide a sliding fee scale for those who are un- or under-insured
Hours:Monday-Friday 9am-6pm
Helpful Links
Practice Areas/Issues Treated
 Therapy
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Loneliness
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Adolescents
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Marriage & Family Therapy
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Adoption
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Marriage Counseling
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Anger Management
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Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
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Anxiety and Panic
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Online / Teletherapy
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Caregiver Issues
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Play Therapy
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Children's Counseling
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Pre and Postpartum Mental Health
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Chronic Illness
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Relationship Issues
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Couples
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Self-Esteem Issues
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Depression
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Seniors and Elder Care Issues
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Divorce
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Stress Management
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Domestic Violence
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Trauma and PTSD
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Grief and Loss
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Work and Career Issues
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Life Transitions
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Licenses/Certifications
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Academy of Certified Social Workers (ACSW)
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Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)
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Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker (LICSW)
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Master's Degree in Social Work (MSW)
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Psychotherapy (MA)
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