PlayfulLeigh Psyched
Frequently Asked Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
General Questions
What does the name of the company even mean?
PlayfulLeigh Psyched is a play on words and sounds for the owner. In some circles, Dr. Dowtin uses her middle name, Leigh (like the name Lee). Among several other training areas and certifications, Dr. Dowtin is a registered play therapist (RPT) and has training in clinical psychology (psych). PlayfulLeigh (like, playfully) is a reminder for Dr. Dowtin and all of her clients to embody playfullness whenever possible. Psyched, reminds us that our mental health is important. While psychotherapy and counseling can be emotionally challenging, many people are excited to begin a journey of healing. Therefore, one meaning behind the company's name is - playfully excited. "Remember, we do not lose our ability to play as we grow older, we stifle our willingness to play." (Dr. Dowtin) Get ready to take back a piece of yourself and find a moment to play a little today.
What kind of counseling concerns are not a good fit for PlayfulLeigh Psyched right now?
At this time, we are not accepting new clients who have primary concerns about relationship issues with a romantic partner(s), children between the ages of 8- to 17-years-old, people with previously diagnosed personality disoders, and people who are suicidal or who have recently had a plan for suicide within the past year. Contact us to find out if your concerns are a good fit for our services.
What can I expect if I choose Dr. Dowtin as a counselor for myself?
Does PlayfulLeigh Psyched accept insurance or Medicaid for counseling?
No. Clients must pay out of pocket.
Consultation and Coaching
What kind of consultation and coaching does PlayfulLeigh Psyched, LLC provide and what makes you qualified?
PlayfulLeigh Psyched provides online early childhood classroom consultation and teacher/adminstator coaching to infant and early care providers. The owner of PlayfulLeigh Psyched was a preschool and infant care teacher, and an Assistant Director or Center Director for over 11 years while learning and training in mental health. She worked as a mental health and behavioral consultant in a therapuetic preschool for children who had experienced trauma. The combination of these unique experiences means that Dr. Dowtin has not only education and training, but also real-life practical skills. She understands what it is like to be in a classroom with 20 preschoolers running around, or in an infant-care classroom with 6 babies crying, or running a center of 120+ children and families as much as she understand the therapy room because she lived it!
Counseling Adults
There are a lot of pictures of babies and children on this site, how can I trust that my adult issues will be addressed?
Great question. Let's learn a little about Dr. Dowtin's background.
She is a licensed clinical professional counselor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland and registered for teletherapy in Florida. Also, she has advanced degrees and training in school and clinical psychology (Ph.D.). She has worked with individuals and families for over ten years. Her practice is for individuals of most ages (conception through age 5 and then 18 years+). Her passion is working with people who have experienced trauma (including attachment trauma, childhood trauma, and PTSD), abuse/assault, anxiety, identity development, and postpartum depression.
She has completed advanced training as a perinatal mood and anxiety disorder counselor. Therefore, she is highly qualified to work with individuals during the perinatal period (e.g., during pregnancy and for the first two years postpartum). This includes all genders and adoptive parents. Also, she has specialty training in parenting problems (e.g., parenting challenges related to infants and young children).
I am still not convinced that Dr. Dowtin is a good fit for adult therapy since she has so much experience with children. What have her recent adult clients said about her?
Counseling Children
What can I expect if I choose Dr. Dowtin as a counselor for my toddler?
Young children need the presense and guidance of their caregivers to benefit form psychotherapuetic intervention. The infant-parent/child-parent relationship is the core system at play to help young children thrive. When working with parents of infants and young children who are experiencing emotional or behavioral challenges, Dr. Dowtin most commonly utilizes the Circle of Security-Parenting (COS-P) and skills from Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), depending on the needs of the parents. For children (birth to five years) who have experience trauma, I use principles of Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP).
Does PlayfulLeigh Psyched offer Play Therapy?
YES! Dr. Dowtin is highly skilled in play therapy online play therapy with young children. First, a parent-only session would need to occur so that you and Dr. Dowtin could determine the appropriate set up and toys for the session. In some cases, Dr. Dowtin will guide parents to use play therapy techniques with their child to facilitate relationship enhancement for the parent-child relationship. This method also helps with decreasing challenging child behaviors. Dr. Dowtin is also certified in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), which has success with teletherapy.
Location
Does PlayfulLeigh Psyched have a brick and mortar location?
No. All services are provided via telehealth and virtual visits. You would need access to a laptop, tablet, or smart device to join video sessions. Phone sessions are also possible for select services.
Since PlayfulLeigh Psyched offers teletherapy, can I be anywhere in the world during sessions?
Unfortunately, mental health laws are decades behind technology. Currently, Dr. Dowtin is licensed for telehealth counseling services in Maryland and Florida. That means, you must be physically located in one of those two states during live counseling sessions. For now, you must be in Maryland or Florida to access these services. However, PlayfulLeigh Psyched offers consultation services to clinicians and companies all over the world!