Vanessa Pruitt

04/09/2026

Not all repetition is a problem.

Some kids aren’t “stuck” on screens… they’re studying patterns, sequencing, and how things work.

In the therapy room, this can look like watching the same thing over and over. Wanting to watch it their way. Not wanting commentary.

That’s not always avoidance.

Sometimes, it’s learning.
Sometimes, it’s regulation.
Sometimes, it’s the beginning of mastery.

I wrote about how to understand this through a developmental and play therapy lens—and what to actually watch for over time.

👇🏼 Read more here:
https://sevenstonesmentalhealth.com/when-repetitive-screen-behavior-is-actually-play/

Understanding Visual Pattern-Based Engagement in the Therapy Room Most clinicians are trained to monitor repetition. Repetitive play.Repetitive behaviors.Repetitive media use. Often, the clinical instinct is to redirect or reduce it. In some cases, that is appropriate. In others, it leads to misinte...

04/08/2026

Most clinicians aren’t trained for the part of the job that actually puts them at risk: documentation in high-conflict, court-involved cases.

When dynamics escalate, your note becomes more than a record—it becomes the only objective evidence of your clinical judgment, neutrality, and role clarity.

This post breaks down how to:
• Document collateral parent contact as treatment (not conversation)
• Maintain neutrality without getting pulled into family dynamics
• Protect your license, income, and clinical role
• Write notes that hold up under audit, subpoena, or review

If you work with children, families, or high-conflict systems, this is not optional skill-building—it’s risk management.

Good documentation doesn’t just reflect your work.
It protects it.

Most clinicians are not trained for what actually puts them at risk. Graduate programs teach theory, diagnosis, and intervention.They do not teach you how your documentation will be read: by an insurance auditor by a licensing board or in a courtroom And yet, that is exactly where your notes may end...

06/25/2025

🎮 Curious how video games actually work in child and teen therapy?

A brand-new mini guide is almost here—packed with practical tips, ethical insights, and language to use with caregivers. 🌱✨

📥 Coming soon to SevenStonesMentalHealth.com
👇 Drop a comment if you want to be notified when it goes live!

05/07/2024

** Finally, the wait is over! Are you a child therapist feeling frustrated by the gap between what parents expect and your goals for the child? **

Ugh, I've been there! Dealing with resistant parents, mismatched expectations, and feeling like you're pulling teeth just to get buy-in can be SO draining.

These struggles can lead to high-conflict situations and emotional burnout for therapists like us. Balancing the needs of our young clients with engaging their parents within our sessions can feel overwhelming.

But there's good news! I'm excited to share my FREE "Collaborative Therapy Toolkit" ️ to help you:

Establish clear goals and expectations with parents
Open and effective lines of communication ️
Navigate high-conflict scenarios with confidence
Reinforce confidentiality and boundary setting
Download your FREE Toolkit here: https://bit.ly/3Uud1Do ➡️

**This Toolkit can help you create a more successful and less stressful therapeutic experience for everyone involved, including yourself! **

P.S. Don't forget, the Toolkit comes with a BONUS Therapist Self-Assessment to help you optimize your practice!

04/30/2024

I won the grand prize for zenfest... Every gemstone in their collection. $600 value. I guess the universe really said "oh you need gemstones? Here is every single one." ✨✨

@ A Higher Plane-Tools for Spiritual Living

03/16/2024

Have you ever had a parent pull their kid from therapy because of defensiveness or misunderstandings. I’ve had my fair share of parental resistance, mismatched goals, and communication issues. This has lead to high-conflict situations and, frankly, a lot of emotional labor for me.

I’m working on a free tool to ease the process of establishing clear goals and expectations, and open and effective lines of communication with parents and other professionals, increasing “buy in”, parent satisfaction with therapy and client retention.

Would this toolkit make your professional life easier? 🤔 Just a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ will help and I can get it to you when it’s ready

03/15/2024

Are you a child therapist struggling with differences between what parents expect from therapy and your objective with the child? I’ve had my fair share of parental resistance and defensiveness, mismatched goals, and communication issues. At times, this has made my job working with kids (which I love) so tricky that I almost wanted to quit altogether.

These struggles in working with parents often lead to high-conflict situations and, frankly, a lot of emotional labor for us therapists. Balancing the needs of our young clients with engaging their parents, all within the constraints of our sessions requires resources we don't always have on hand.

This is exactly why I’m working on creating a resource to address this—a 'Collaborative Therapy Toolkit.' 🛠️ It's designed to ease the process of establishing clear goals and expectations, open and effective lines of communication, navigating high-conflict scenarios, and reinforcing confidentiality and boundary setting with parents.

But I need to hear from you: Would this toolkit make your professional life easier? 🤔 Just a 'yes' or 'no' will help me tailor it to our needs. And yes, it will be shared for free as a resource to our community. If you're interested, let me know, and I’ll ensure you’re among the first to access it. 🎁

03/11/2024

Hey fellow therapists!! 🌟 I've noticed many of us struggle with effectively engaging parents and professionals in the therapeutic process, leading to misunderstandings about therapy's goals and potential frustrations. 😕

Recognizing this, I'm in the process of creating a "Collaborative Therapy Toolkit" 🛠️. This toolkit will include a brief guide to enhancing communication 🗣️ and a printable template for effectively communicating progress in sessions 📝. These tools are designed to simplify the process of collaboration and increase buy-in, ensuring therapy is more impactful and understood by all parties involved 🤝.

But before I finalize and launch it, I need to know: Would this be valuable for you? 🤔 A simple yes or no will do. If you're interested, hit reply ✉️, and I'll ensure you receive a free copy as soon as it's ready. 🎁

03/10/2024

🎨 mounika.studio

01/21/2024

Our decisions must be watertight, because excuses will seep through any little cracks in our resolve and before we know it, we'll be on our asses.