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Child & Adolescent Therapy

Child and adolescent therapy is a specialized field of mental health services involving understanding and specific interventions for each child's developmental stage and unique life experiences. 

As they grow, children and adolescents develop social skills and emotional intelligence. This awareness helps them to develop into healthy, happy, and successful individuals. But some children have trouble processing their emotions and this often leads to behavior that negatively impacts their school life, home life, and overall well-being.

Effective Forms of Therapy for Children and Adolescents

Therapy offers children and adolescents a safe space to work through their thoughts and emotions. With the help of a specialized therapist, children can resolve problems, modify behaviors, and make positive and lasting changes.

The following are a few different types of psychotherapy available to children and families. Each offers unique approaches and techniques to bring about positive outcomes. Sometimes a therapist may choose to use just one specific treatment, and other times he or she may find a combination of various treatments is the best approach.

Play Therapy 

We use a variety of play therapy interventions to engage children in their natural ability to approach challenges. Please see our play therapy page for more information. 

Expressive Therapy 

Children and teens are often more comfortable engaging in therapy when they can participate in a familiar activity during sessions.  Children and teens will have a wide variety of art supplies and games to help them engage a collaborative counseling process. 

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)

CBT helps children to identify harmful thought patterns. Once a child recognizes that their thoughts create their feelings and moods, they can learn to control themselves and their behavior. Research has shown that CBT is highly effective at treating depression and anxiety as well as helping individuals, including children, deal with traumatic experiences.

Family Therapy

Family therapy is great for helping families improve communication so they can resolve issues. Sessions can include the entire family, including children, siblings, parents, and grandparents, or just one or two individuals.

Who is Therapy Right for?

At every age, children can be faced with life’s challenges. The following are some of the events and scenarios that can impact a child’s mental health and well-being:

  • The death of a loved one
  • Bullying
  • Physical or sexual abuse
  • Domestic violence
  • Moving or attending a new school
  • Divorce
  • Social anxiety
  • Depression
  • ADHD
  • Eating disorders

Therapy is not a quick fix to a child’s behavioral or emotional issues. It is instead a thoughtful and comprehensive process that provides children with insights and skills so that they may become masters of their thoughts and feelings. This, in essence, is how children develop into happy, healthy, and successful adults.

If you would like to explore treatment options for your child, please give my office a call.