Child Therapy
Does Your Child’s Behavior Worry You?
Are you concerned that your child doesn’t seem happy or well-adjusted? Do they get picked on at school or have trouble making friends? Rather than opening up to you about what’s going on, have they become withdrawn or despondent?
As a parent, it can be heartbreaking to witness your child faltering and not know how to help them. Perhaps your child often seems nervous or insecure. They may question their own judgment, be afraid to make mistakes or shy away from social interaction. This could be affecting their academic performance, leading them to fall behind in school or lose confidence in themselves.
You May Be Struggling To Connect With Your Child
When your child or teen is anxious or depressed, it may be difficult for them to convey the big emotions they’re dealing with. Instead of being able to tell you what’s wrong with words, they might act out with unruly behavior or, conversely, become silent and introverted. Lacking the ability to communicate what’s wrong, your child’s behavior may grow increasingly worrisome.
To be healthy and happy, your child needs to feel safe, heard, and supported. In addition to the love and care you give your child every day, the one-on-one support of an experienced therapist can enable them to thrive. By offering hands-on skills to help them with social skills, problem- solving, confidence building, and addressing academic struggles, therapy provides your child with the tools they need to be successful.
Children Are Under More Stress Than Ever
Sadly, lots of children these days struggle with anxiety or depression. A recent Pew Research Center survey of parents with children younger than 18 reported that “mental health tops the list of worries that U.S. parents express about their kids’ well-being.”
Today’s fast-moving world can be overwhelming for kids. Social media has negatively affected how many of our children view themselves. And with so much time spent online, kids are often exposed to things they’re not emotionally prepared to see. Coupled with a lack of play, many children have become withdrawn and socially anxious.
Our Attitudes About Parenting May Be Outdated
For some of us, the idiom “children should be seen and not heard” was still in vogue when we were kids. This mentality that diminished children’s needs cast a shadow over our culture, resulting in generational trauma that we are still recovering from today.
Today we have a lot more information about child development to draw from. This data can help us identify which parenting styles and techniques are beneficial and which are harmful. Nevertheless, as parents, we can become overwhelmed by too many differing viewpoints and not have enough support or guidance to resolve issues with our children without professional guidance.
The truth is that when we become parents, we are newbies that have to figure it out for ourselves. Because we don’t always know the best way to support our child—compounded by them not always being able to effectively convey what’s wrong—we may feel out of our depth going it alone.
Fortunately, therapy for children and teens caters to their developmental level. Working closely with a therapist will help your child better understand, express, and regulate their emotions, thereby gaining more self-awareness which, in turn, boosts self-confidence.
Therapy Can Help Your Child Or Teen Better Regulate And Express Their Emotions
For therapy to be a rewarding experience for your child, it’s important that they feel cared about and heard during sessions. What’s more, your child needs to know they can trust their therapist and that there will be a level of confidentiality around what’s being talked about. Therapy offers kids a safe, non-judgmental space where they will receive the undivided attention of a trusted adult who will empower them to express themselves freely.
Counseling for children incorporates elements of play based on your child’s level of maturity. We aim to make them feel comfortable and at ease by incorporating games, activities, and worksheets to help build rapport while at the same time identifying where they are struggling. Allowing your child to express themselves through child-centered play or art therapy takes the pressure off of them to have to talk about their feelings until they feel ready to do so.
What To Expect In Sessions
Kids are less inclined to share what’s on their mind when their parent is listening. As such, your therapist will speak to you and your child separately to gain a thorough understanding of what’s going on. Although ongoing counseling sessions will be conducted with your child only, we highly encourage you to remain an active participant throughout therapy for best results.
Children aren’t always in tune with how they’re feeling. For example, they may not realize that there are emotions beyond “happy”, “sad”, or “mad” or that they can experience more than one feeling at once. With reassurance and compassion, we will help your child understand the nuances of their emotions as well as how to regulate them. Along the way, they will also learn how to express their feelings with clarity and without embarrassment or shame.
Depending on your child’s needs, we may work on improving their self-confidence, social skills, problem-solving, and academic performance. We will also touch on family dynamics to ensure they feel safe, protected, and well-supported. Ultimately, our aim for your child is helping them recognize that how they feel is valid and important.
Throughout the process, your child’s therapist will be a resource and support to both you and your child. They will check in with you routinely to address your concerns and will suggest ways you can improve communication with your child. Utilizing the expertise of a child behavior specialist, you can rest assured that therapy will be a beneficial experience that helps your child become happier, more well-adjusted, and more comfortable expressing their emotions.
But You May Have Some Concerns About Therapy For Your Child…
Will I be informed about what my child talks about in therapy?
We provide every child with a level of confidentiality so that they feel comfortable opening up about their struggles. At the same time, we always explain the limits of confidentiality to them. If something is shared in a session that we feel parents should be made aware of, we’ll have a conversation with your child to discuss informing you of their concerns. To encourage and foster a closer relationship with your child, we will ensure you’re notified of any relevant and concerning topics they may bring up in sessions.
How involved will I be in my child’s treatment?
Very involved! Parental inclusion is crucial for your child’s success. The therapist will be a resource to you as well as your child, ensuring that any questions or concerns you have along the way are answered. And although counseling sessions will generally be held with your child alone, we want to keep you in the loop so you can support what your child is working on in therapy sessions at home.
In addition to therapy, will my child be prescribed medication?
Although medication is something that we can explore together, it’s never the first resort. We usually recommend trying therapy first. If a mental health condition is really impairing your child’s functioning (causing them to fall behind in school, have trouble making friends, etc.), we can look into finding them a provider who can prescribe appropriate medication.
Let’s Work Together To Get Your Child The Support They Need To Thrive
You know your child better than anyone and can tell when something isn’t right. We’re here to help. To get started, you can email us, use the contact form, or call 929-404-3002 for a free, 15-minute phone consultation
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