Is Your Child Depressed Or Anxious? 

● Are you concerned about your child’s mental health?

● Do they seem overly anxious, depressed, or experience big emotions they have difficulty regulating?

● If you’ve tried everything you can to help them without success, do you think your child would benefit from counseling?

As a parent, you can’t help but worry when your child exhibits troubling behaviors. Perhaps they struggle to regulate their emotions and are prone to angry outbursts, tantrums, or crying spells. Or maybe they become fearful and anxious around others or distressed whenever they are separated from you. Their behavior might impact their ability to make friends and affect their academic performance, causing them to dread going to school.

Times Of Transition Can Lead To Anxiety Or Depression 

Because children thrive on routine, any disruption from the norm may contribute to their stress. They might be acting out due to a recent change, such as starting a new school or adjusting to a new family dynamic, like separation or divorce. And if they are experiencing bullying or peer pressure, they might be struggling to cope.

It might also be difficult to pinpoint the origin of your child’s distress. Perhaps you’ve done as much as you can to address the problem on your own and feel frustrated. If only you knew how to calm their fears and guide them toward a happier, carefree life. Having run out of options, you might be looking for outside help.

Fortunately, counseling is available for children struggling to control and process their emotions. Working alongside a therapist who specializes in child-centered play therapy, you’ll learn how to support your child and equip them with the coping tools to overcome their challenges.

 One In Six Children In The U.S. Have A Diagnosed Mental, Behavioral, Or Developmental Disorder [1] 

These days, many children suffer from mental health challenges. The most commonly diagnosed mental disorders in children include Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems. [1] Not surprisingly, a recent survey found that “mental health tops the list of worries that U.S. parents express about their kids’ well-being.” [2]

Modern Life Can Be Overwhelming For Our Kids 

These days, life is often fast-paced and hectic which can easily overwhelm children. Because they are still developing emotionally as well as physically, they can become overstimulated if they spend too much time online or engaging with social media. If they don’t get time for unstructured play and to exercise their imagination, they might experience symptoms of depression or anxiety.  

While we try to do our best as parents, we don’t always have the expertise to navigate every challenge our child may face. That’s why having an unbiased and trained outside party to lend a fresh set of eyes in child and family counseling sessions can be invaluable. A child therapist can help you recognize the patterns within your family dynamic that may be contributing to your child’s behavior and offer age-appropriate coping strategies that reduce stress and anxiety. 

Therapy Will Provide Your Child With The Support They Need 

You might feel out of your depth when your child is in distress. Because you may carry your own trauma or stress, you have little bandwidth left to support them. Even if you’ve tried doing all the "right" things for your child, having a counselor who can form a different relationship with them that is close, supportive, and connected will reinforce improvement and positive change.

As therapists specializing in working with children and families, we offer a therapeutic environment where each of you will experience a sense of safety and support. Child counseling treatment will be tailored to you and your family’s needs with the goal of reducing negative symptoms and improving your child’s quality of life. With a fully stocked playroom at their disposal, your child can express themselves and work out how to cope with the big emotions they’re struggling with.

 What To Expect In Child Therapy Sessions 

Initially, we will meet with you to gather background information about your child, identify the presenting problems, and work collaboratively to set goals for treatment. Depending upon the age and comfort of your child, we will determine whether subsequent sessions will be held individually or include parents.

Whether or not you attend therapy sessions with your child, parental involvement is vital to the success of their treatment— your feedback for what you’re seeing at home is invaluable. Because no one knows your child as well as you, we encourage you to be an active participant throughout your child’s therapy. You can aid their progress by reinforcing what they learn in sessions at home. In sessions, we will practice coping tools that help calm your child’s nervous system—such as mindfulness, breathing techniques, and progressive muscle relaxation—so you can better replicate them at home.

Play Therapy For Children Helps Kids Express Themselves Without The Need For Words 

Child-centered play therapy, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) will be integrated throughout sessions to support treatment goals. Our playroom has an abundance of toys and activities that allow your child to express and process their internal world nonverbally. For example, we might play with a sand tray to calm and process emotions or a fidget to ground and channel energy appropriately. As they play, the therapist will observe and intervene as needed, picking out the inherent expression your child is conveying.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques help capture thoughts and feelings in the moment so that your child can reflect back on them more clearly. For example, we may use puppets to act out scenarios so that your child can reframe experiences with more safety and a different perspective. Additionally, your counselor will help your child identify their emotions and help them practice how to express them.

With help and support, we can help you build a deeper connection with your child, leading to more fulfillment. Our team will be with you throughout the process to ensure you never feel alone in helping them develop the coping skills they need to thrive.

But Maybe You’re Not Sure If Therapy Is Right For Your Child…

 How long does therapy for children usually take? 

Since we tailor treatment to your child’s unique needs, the length of time spent in therapy can vary. However, in general, the average duration of child counseling is approximately 20 sessions.

We understand that you are eager to help your child towards their goals. Before getting underway, your child’s therapist will discuss any scheduling concerns or time constraints you may have to ensure they are addressed upfront. For your convenience, some sessions can be conducted virtually to help with childcare arrangements.

When my child is receiving counseling, how involved will I be?

The involvement of parents and caregivers has been proven to improve results when children receive treatment for depression or anxiety.[3] We value your insight and need your help maintaining your child’s progress outside of therapy sessions. After all, your child’s counselor only spends a small fraction of time with them. Parental involvement can vary based on your child’s needs as well as your preferences. In addition to one-on-one therapy with your child, counseling may consist of family sessions that you attend along with your child or individual parenting sessions.

How much will counseling for children cost?

We offer competitive private-pay options and are in-network with some of the major insurance carriers. Our office will help you determine which clinician is best suited to meet your needs and work with your insurance company to confirm benefits. We are happy to provide you with a superbill to submit to your insurance company for full or partial coverage.

Give Your Child The Tools They Need To Thrive 

Allow one of our trained child therapists to partner with your family to help you achieve positive change. If you would like to find out more about receiving therapy for your child, you may visit our contact page or call 561-221-0080 to schedule a free 15-minute call.

[1] https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html

[2] https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2023/03/02/mental-health-and-the-pandemic-what-u-s-surveys-have-found/

 [3] https://youth.gov/youth-topics/impact-family-engagement