When do children need Children’s Counseling / Children’s Therapy?

Some of the most common symptoms indicating that your younger child might need children’s counseling / children’s therapy:

• Significant drop in school performance
• Difficulty showing interest in activities they enjoyed before
• A drop in interest in friends or family
• Problems with sleep (night terrors, nightmares, sleeping too much or too little)
• Hyperactivity
• Constant or frequent aggression or behavior problems for more than 6 months
• Constant or frequent rebellion; opposing authority or redirection for more than 6 months direction
• Refusal to go to school on a regular or frequent basis
• Excessive worry or anxiety
• Excessive, regular temper tantrums (without explanation)
• Thoughts or talk of suicide 

Older children or teens might present a need a bit differently. Symptoms may include:

• Significant drop in school performance
• Withdrawal or difficulty showing interest in activities they enjoyed before
• A drop in interest in friends or family
• Substance (alcohol and drugs) use
• Problems with sleep (night terrors, nightmares, sleeping too much or too little)
• Depression (poor mood, negativity, or mood swings)
• Change in appetite, such as refusal to eat, excessive eating, food rituals, bingeing, or purging
• Constant or frequent aggression or behavior problems for more than 6 months
• Constant or frequent rebellion; opposing authority or redirection for more than 6 months direction
• Continuous or frequent anger for more than 6 months
• Refusing to attend or skipping school
• Excessive worry or anxiety
• Self-injury
• Multiple physical complaints
• Lying or cheating
• Sexually acting out
• Running away or threatening to run away
• Destructive behaviors, such as vandalism or other criminal activity
• Threats to self or others
• Thoughts of death
• Thoughts or talk of suicide

Children’s Counseling / Children’s Therapy

Children’s therapy can include a variety of frameworks, interventions, and techniques. Your child will be assessed and an individualized plan will be developed to fit their unique and specific needs. Depending on their needs , age, and developmental level the plan will include both coping skill development and work on the underlying issues.

Some interventions utilized include:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques: his type of children’s therapy or children’s counseling determines and changes problematic patterns of thinking and behaving that are harming your child.
• Play Therapy techniques: For ages 3-11, this type of children’s therapy or children’s counseling expression of thoughts and feelings through symbolic play, reveals and worries and concerns and assists the client to develop coping.
• Behavior Therapy: This type of children’s therapy or children’s counseling strengthens positive behaviors and eliminates or reduces unwanted or problematic behaviors