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!