Counseling for children is a difficult topic for parents. No parent wants their child to require counseling. Unfortunately, life for children nowadays can be quite complicated and challenging and some children experience violence or trauma through no fault of the parents.
While counseling for children can be focused on repairing harm, it can also be used to develop and nurture healthy life skills such as the ability to regulate emotions, maintain positive self-esteem, get along with others and improve confidence and self-care. These skills can help children do more than manage stress, but to actively thrive.
During child therapy sessions, multiple approaches are used based on the child’s age, level of cognition and presenting problem. Therapy involves the use of toys, blocks, dolls, puppets, drawings, and games to help the child recognize, identify, and verbalize feelings. Within the session the clinician is looking to observe how the child uses play materials and identifies themes or patterns to understand the child’s difficulties. Through a combination of talk and play your child has an opportunity to better understand and manage their conflicts, feelings, and behavior. The goal is to bring about an understanding of the issues that motivate and influence a child’s behavior, thoughts, and feelings. It can help identify a child’s typical behavior patterns, defenses, and responses to inner conflicts and struggles.
Counseling can be helpful if your child is experiencing
- Behavioral problems at home and/or school
- Difficulty managing their anger impulses
- Excessive worry
- Difficulty making friends
- Nightmares
- Repetitive behaviors
- Trouble separating from parents
Whether your child is struggling with anxiety, attention, confidence, self esteem, social issues, worries, or depression, learning how to identify their feelings is key.
For young children we believe that parent involvement in treatment is essential. After an initial assessment we will work together to examine expectations, identify goals and create a treatment plan tailored to your child’s and family’s needs.
If any of these topics have crossed your mind, therapy might be the right fit for your child.