Child Therapy
Does Your Child Seem Troubled But You’re Not Sure How To Help?
Does your child have anxieties and fears related to school or other social environments? Do they get irrationally upset when plans change unexpectedly or experience separation anxiety when they are not with you? Are you concerned by their struggle to keep up academically, socially, or emotionally?
Parenting can be incredibly rewarding, but is not without its difficulties. Seeing your child sad, anxious, or in pain can be difficult to cope with, especially when their distress appears to originate from within. Perhaps you have received concerning reports from their teachers or friend’s parents about your child’s behavior, confirming your worries that something is amiss.
It’s Not Always Clear What Is Causing Your Child’s Distress
You may have noticed that your child gets overly anxious or overwhelmed by day-to-day occurrences, like projects at school, participating in sports, or social situations. Or maybe they have become unmotivated and withdrawn, spending more time alone isolated from their friends. Although an upsetting life event may have prompted their change in mood, in other instances you may be uncertain why they’re struggling.
While you hate to see your child suffering, you may not know where to turn. More than anything, you want to help your child cope with life’s stressors so they can live with more joy, resilience, and peace.
Fortunately, the therapists at Rocky Mountain Counseling have the flexibility to meet your child‘s and family’s needs while honoring that you are the ultimate expert. By approaching therapy with a collaborative and relational lens, we can pinpoint your child’s needs and make thoughtful recommendations based on our training and experience.
Have any questions? Send us a message!
Children’s Mental Health Challenges Are More Common Than Many Parents Realize
Our understanding of the mental health needs of children has improved in the last decade. According to research conducted by the National Institutes of Health, “Approximately 1 in 10 children and adolescents have high enough levels of anxiety to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, and 1-3 percent with OCD.” [1]
Younger school-aged children often face new challenges and adjustments to their routines that can be stressful for them. While going to school for longer periods, starting new extracurricular activities, and making new friends are all exciting milestones, they can also be anxiety-provoking. While anxiety is a normal part of everyone’s emotional experience, children can benefit from learning tools to help navigate through challenging moments.
Knowing How To Help Our Child Best Isn’t Always Clear
As parents, we will try anything to help our child, but it’s not always easy to do. When we see them struggling, we often become worried and sad ourselves and lose objectivity. We may become frustrated or feel helpless to change the situation. Sometimes, we might not have insight into the source of their stress, while at other times, we may know exactly what the problem is but feel powerless to fix it. This is why outside support and guidance can make such a difference during difficult times.
A child therapist can provide objective insight and perspective that family members may not always see. Sometimes stressful circumstances—like a death in the family, living with a special-needs sibling, or undergoing a move—impact children in curious ways. Utilizing play and experiential therapy customized to suit their needs, we will process your child’s feelings together, offering them support as we guide them toward solutions.
Therapy Can Help Your Child Foster Self-Love, Strength, And Resilience
Although you know your child can thrive, it’s important that they know it, too. Many children could benefit from therapy, where they can learn the necessary skills to manage stress, reduce the physical symptoms of anxiety, and develop techniques for positive self-talk. With a collaborative, client-centered approach to counseling, your therapist will assess your child, formulating an individualized plan that addresses their specific needs.
At Rocky Mountain Counseling, we strive to be accessible and never overly clinical. Our team is comprised of talented therapists who pride themselves on connecting and building trusting relationships with the families we work with. We will apply our expertise while also showing up authentically.
What To Expect From Child Therapy
Your counselor will help your child identify how they think, feel, and act by employing two foundational pillars throughout therapy. The first pillar is cultivating a strong therapeutic relationship with your child based on trust. Without this foundation, child counseling will be ineffective.
The second pillar is empowering your child to develop and hone more effective coping skills. Because challenges emerge in different contexts, the strategies offered will be customized to specific situations and settings—such as home, school, social, and community—and experimented with until we find the ones that work best. Parent involvement within sessions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis and mutually determined by what will most benefit your child.
How We Utilize Play And Experiential Therapy For Children
The approach we take will always be guided by what works best for your child, such as child-centered play therapy, therapy involving parent support and training, or experiential therapy. If your child wants to draw, go for a walk, or play a game during sessions, these activities will help foster therapeutic conversation and develop trust. Taking the “therapy” out of therapy helps kids feel more comfortable and allows them to work through their struggles more naturally and easily.
Because play is how children communicate and process their emotions, we honor that and incorporate it into counseling. In addition to having a dedicated play therapist and playroom, all of our clinicians are trained in the play therapy philosophy and can implement elements of it throughout sessions. We meet them where they are and allow them to express their thoughts and feelings comfortably and creatively, whether through toys, sand trays, art, or journaling.
Because we spend the time necessary getting to know your child and building a relationship responsive to their needs, therapy can affect positive change in their life as well as improve your family dynamic. By developing a comfort level with asking for help and coping skills to manage stressful situations, child therapy offers your child the tools they need to thrive.
But Maybe You’re Not Sure If Child Therapy Is Right For You…
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While counseling for children is not the same as waving a magic wand, it can be highly effective when used in conjunction with other resources, such as working with teachers and implementing a family-centered treatment plan. While there are no guarantees, many parents value treatment as an important resource for managing child depression and anxiety. What’s more, grief counseling geared for children can help them come to terms with loss and find a positive path forward.
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When considering counseling for your child, it’s helpful to recognize it as a worthwhile investment in your family’s health and happiness. What’s more, therapy doesn’t have to be forever. The duration of therapy will depend on your child’s needs and your family’s goals. While some families value the support of ongoing therapy, three to six months of focused child therapy can often be more effective than intermittent sessions over a longer period of time.
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If you suspect your child is anxious or depressed, the underlying cause is likely to persist if left unaddressed. While you can wait to see if their behavior changes, it’s preferable to seek help from a child specialist sooner rather than later. Therapy can help your child overcome their challenges and get back to being a kid. If you’re not sure whether your child would benefit from working with an experienced therapist, you can always talk to a school counselor and get their opinion before deciding to seek therapy.
Let Us Partner With Your Family And Find The Right Solutions
If you think your child could benefit from therapy, call Rocky Mountain Counseling at (720) 252-0345 or contact us today.
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