CHILD THERAPY
Are You Worried About Your Child’s Mental Health Or Development?
Do you suspect your child may suffer from anxiety or depression?
Rather than acting carefree, have you noticed that your child worries excessively, seems withdrawn, or avoids situations that cause fear or distress?
Does your child exhibit behaviors that cause them difficulties at school or hold them back from making friends?
As a parent, there is nothing more concerning than when your child is struggling. Whether they seem despondent, anxious, angry, or defiant, you may feel out of your depth trying to discern how to help them.
Perhaps you worry that they are struggling with a mental health issue that prevents them from thriving. Or, if their performance at school is declining, you may wonder if they have Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or a learning disability, such as dyslexia or auditory processing disorder.
Communication With Your Child Can Be Problematic
When children are troubled, oftentimes it is hard for them to express their thoughts and feelings articulately, making it all the more difficult to get to the bottom of what is afflicting them. Until you can determine what the problem is and what to do about it, you might feel that you are failing your child.
I understand how challenging being a parent can be when your child needs more support than you can provide. The good news is that counseling can help you gain an understanding of what is going on in your child’s life.
Moreover, as a skilled child therapist, I can offer both you and your child tangible skills to address the challenges they face so you can move forward with clarity, knowledge, and the right tools for coping.
Increasing Life Challenges Can Push Children To Their Breaking Point
Although, as parents, we may often feel like we are the only ones whose child is struggling with anxiety or depression, we are not alone in this fear. Many parents express worries about their child’s mental and emotional well-being, in particular their struggles with depression and/or anxiety.
Lamentably, in our modern world, life has become increasingly challenging for children to navigate. Between rigorous demands at school, expectations to participate in a variety of extracurricular activities, and the many pitfalls presented by social media, the life of today’s children looks significantly different than how we grew up.
The Stressors Inherent In Today’s World Only Add To The Problem
Coupled with the current state of the world—with its myriad of problems—our children may worry or have a hard time coping with stress from an earlier age. And while having certain worries or fears in childhood is normal, persistent or extreme forms of fear and sadness could lead to depression or anxiety.
As much as we may try to protect our children from damaging external influences, it is simply not how the world works.
If your child’s mental health is suffering or a developmental challenge is impacting their self-esteem, therapy can provide support. Working with me, your child can learn how to understand and regulate their emotions as well as how to express themselves so that they gain confidence.
Therapy Can Supply Parents and Children With Workable Solutions
Taking the step to seek professional support for your child might be difficult, but it is the best thing you can do for them. Of course, when considering therapy for your child, it is important to keep in mind that they feel comfortable and safe in the therapeutic environment.
For that reason, I provide a gentle and unthreatening space for your child to gain an understanding of how they feel and learn to identify where these emotions are coming from.
What To Expect In Child Therapy Sessions
I am highly skilled at working with children of all ages and at different stages of development. My aim is to tailor counseling for your child so that it is not only age-appropriate but will also be customized to their unique needs.
The main goals of our sessions together will be:
Identifying your child’s challenges
Determining what you, as their parent, are hoping therapy will achieve
Customizing a treatment plan and setting quantifiable and attainable goals that address your child’s challenges
With these objectives in mind, I can keep both you and your child on track and check in periodically to ensure that we are achieving the desired results.
Tailoring My Approach To Your Child’s Needs
Because your child has not fully matured yet and may be unable to put into words how they feel, I approach therapy differently for children than for adults.
I have experience with a variety of child-centered treatment methods that take the emphasis off of making children tell me how they feel and, instead, allow them to express themselves freely. Throughout sessions, I will use my experience as a child counselor to help them develop skills to express their feelings with clarity, thereby avoiding emotional dysregulation, such as angry outbursts, excessive worrying, or suppression and detachment.
For therapy to be successful, I always encourage parents to participate as actively as possible with their children. Your participation will allow you to gain invaluable insight into how your child thinks. And armed with this knowledge, you can explore ways to adjust your parenting style that will improve communication and foster trust between the two of you.
While you will not be required to attend every session, I will keep you informed to ensure you can support at home what your child is working on in sessions.
The benefits of therapy that is customized to their needs are enormous—your child can learn to flourish!
My child does not want to come to therapy.
Understandably, your child may not like the idea of talking to a stranger or perhaps think therapy is too formal and serious. Depending upon your child’s age, you may want to at least initially attend therapy with them, which can make them more comfortable with the idea. I also aim to have therapy meet each child’s developmental needs by providing a relaxed atmosphere to put them at ease.
Perhaps You Are Interested In Therapy For Your Child, But You Still Have Some Concerns…
If my child needs therapy, does that mean I have failed as a parent?
Although you might blame yourself if your child is struggling, remember that in today’s world, many families are under pressure and pushed to their limits. I am certain that you are doing the best you can. And the fact that you are looking into solutions for your child’s challenges demonstrates that you are a caring parent. Be assured, children are resilient and usually respond quite favorably to therapy that is geared toward them.
Therapy for children is too time-consuming and expensive.
Seeking out a child counselor may seem daunting at first. Between the expense and scheduling appointments that do not interfere with school, you may determine therapy is not worth the effort. But investing in the well-being of your child is priceless. Not only can therapy help your child learn how to regulate their emotions and communicate their feelings to you, but witnessing as they become a happier, more confident, and well-adjusted individual will be worth its weight in gold.
Let Me Help You Affect Your Child’s Life For The Better
There is nothing wrong with admitting that your child may need help that you, as a parent, cannot provide. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to find out more about therapy for children and how compassionate support can make all the difference in your child’s life.
Recent Posts
