Therapy for Children

Childhood is generally seen as a time of being carefree and filled with joy. But your child is struggling more than others with fears, worries, emotion regulation, impulsive behaviors, or a myriad of other mental health concerns, it can be overwhelming to figure out how to help them. As many as 20% of children have a mental health diagnosis or developmental disorder according to the National Institute of Mental Health. And overall, the rates of mental health concerns has risen over recent years and decades.

The rise of mental health concerns in children is concerning. But you do not have to navigate this alone! Several of our highly trained clinicians treat children and are prepared to offer highly effective and evidenced based treatment for your child.

What Type of Therapy is Best for My Child?

There is not one single modality of therapy that is best for children. Just like for adults, it comes down to the unique needs, presenting concerns, and preferences of the teen to determine what type of therapy will work best. There is a wide range of evidenced based and effective modalities for children. And our team of highly trained clinicians are ready to help support your child with many of these effective modalities.

Here are just a few of the diagnoses we specialize in treating and modalities we offer that specifically related to children:

Anxiety and OCD in Kids
Exposure Therapy
S.P.A.C.E. (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions
Child-Centered Play Therapy
TheraPlay
Parent Management Training (PMT)

Isn’t Therapy with Children Just Playtime?

Play can be a large part of many modalities and treatment approaches for kids. And even those that don’t necessarily use play as the intervention, will be best utilized in a way that incorporates play to provide and support the intervention. Play is the language of kids and one of the most effective ways to get kids engaged in therapy – an otherwise boring task for most kiddos!

Here are more benefits of play therapy and play-based interventions:

Builds trust and rapport – The positive environment created by play allows for rapport to be built faster and stronger. This lays the ground work for the child to feel safe, understood, and supported.
Facilitates emotional expression and communication – Since play is how kids often communicate and express, they are already comfortable using this as a way to safely and comfortable express themselves; especially for things they might not otherwise have the words to express. Use of symbolic play, storytelling, and role-playing all provide children with a way they can share thoughts, fears, and experiences in a non-intimidating way.
Provides insight for the therapist – Play providers a space for the therapist to learn a lot about the child through observation and direct interaction in a setting more similar to outside of the therapy office.
Supports learning – Play provides a more engaging way for children to learn coping skills, develop problem solving skills, enhance social skills, and overall learn new ways to support and improve their mental health.

How Do I Know My Child Needs Therapy?

There are many signs that could indicate that your child may need or benefit from mental health therapy:

Frequent or intense mood swings – Displays of extreme sadness, irritability, or anger that seem disproportionate or persistent.
Withdrawal from family, friends, or activities – A noticeable loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities or avoidance of social interactions.
Excessive fears or worries – Persistent anxiety, phobias, or overwhelming distress about routine situations.
Changes in sleep or eating patterns – Sleeping too much or too little, frequent nightmares, or significant appetite changes.
Difficulty concentrating or a decline in academic performance – Struggling to focus, complete tasks, or maintain grades despite prior ability.
Frequent physical complaints without a medical cause – Stomachaches, headaches, or other physical symptoms that seem stress-related.
Aggressive or defiant behavior – Intense outbursts, difficulty following rules, or engaging in frequent conflicts with authority figures or peers.
Self-harm or talk of harming themselves – Engaging in behaviors such as cutting, hitting, or verbalizing thoughts of self-harm or suicide.
Excessive guilt or feelings of worthlessness – Expressing self-blame, hopelessness, or feeling like they are “bad” or unlovable.
Difficulty coping with major life changes or trauma – Struggling after a move, divorce, loss, bullying, or other stressful experiences.

And probably one of the most important things that would indicate that your teen may need or benefit from counseling is if they are asking for it!

Learn More…

To learn more about the mental
health concerns and conditions we treatment, click the button below!

To learn more about our team of
highly qualified therapists, click the link below.

To learn more about modalities our team offers, click the button below.