To assess the impact of overwhelming long-term traumatic stress to military families.

To use drawing as a way for children to express a wish.

To increase knowledge about a cognitive counseling technique in which children rewrite stories of their problems to create a space between them and the problem. This enables the child to create a less-stressed approach to the problem.

To explore sources of sadness, grief and loss; to consider aspects of sadness that can and can't be controlled.

To increase knowledge about non-directive play therapy, or Story Play, in which the therapist enters into the play story as a way to help a child feel that his/her perceptions are valued.

To help one recognize the specific triggers of their PTSD, and their responses to those triggers.

To increase knowledge about a technique where the child is invited to participate in role-playing and skits in which he reenacts relevant and sometimes painful aspects of his own history, while providing distance from his distress.

To increase knowledge about a technique where attempts are made to build or restore bonding between a child under age 6 and a primary caretaker by re-creating a sense of trust and unconditional bonding, so the child can associate other adults with positive nurturing and respond appropriately.

To help children learn to cope with the loss of a loved one by suggesting the use of a memory box.

To increase knowledge about an art therapy concept that encourages children who have been abused or traumatized to keep a chronological portfolio of their artwork, so they can go back and make changes, giving children a sense of control over past hurts or problematic behaviors.