Children’s Therapy
Parenting in our modern world is difficult. It’s tough being a kid today, too!
Children who are struggling inside are often unable to verbally express what is bothering them. This often leads to a child of any age to act out and a parent to feel overwhelmed and helpless. We are here to help!
Are You Worried That Your Child Struggles with Any of the Following Concerns?
- Anxiety or Fear
- Outbursts or Tantrums
- Moodiness or Irritability
- Difficulty at School or Home
- Shyness/Social Problems
- Difficulty with separation, divorce or death
These are just some of the ways children communicate that something is troubling them.
Click the links below to learn more about how children's counseling can help.
Children are amazingly complex!
Our play therapists work with children from a “child-centered” perspective which requires that they address the developmental needs of each child with whom they have the privilege of working. This “child-centered” focus also takes into consideration the way play behavior changes over the course of a child’s development and the way play behaviors change when a child is struggling with difficult issues.
Children have feelings, both good and bad, that they are unable to address verbally.
It is critical to choose a therapist who is skilled in interacting with children at the child’s level. Children are not miniature adults, and counselors must adjust any counseling intervention to the child’s current level of development. When counseling a child, it is imperative that the therapist approach each child holistically by assessing the child’s thoughts, observable behavior, family systems and social/peer systems.
How Your Child Can Benefit From Play Therapy
Through self-directed play, children are able to choose what toys (or “words”) best reflect their internal experience. Allowing children to choose what materials to use in the playroom also conveys the message that their needs matter, that they are capable of making healthy choices, and that they can trust their own abilities. It is the goal of the play therapist to help the child feel understood, accepted, valued, and safe. It is through the safety of the therapeutic relationship that the child is then able to create positive change by developing new beliefs, trying new behaviors, and accepting new emotions.
Play therapy can benefit children and families in a number of ways, including increasing emotional awareness, improving self-control, boosting self-confidence, and enhancing decision-making skills. Research has found play therapy to benefit children presenting with various issues including adjusting to family change, grief & loss, post-traumatic symptoms, oppositional & defiant behaviors, social difficulties, and neuro-developmental disorders. Through this relational, developmentally-informed treatment approach your child can process past events, find ways to cope with current challenges, and develop the resources needed for future success.
Landreth, G. (2012). Play Therapy: The Art of the Relationship. New York, NY: Routledge.
What are creative interventions?
Traditional talk therapy allows individuals to process challenging experiences and work towards personal growth verbally. However, there are times when words are not enough (or are beyond developmental abilities). Creative interventions consist of various alternatives to talking, including art, sand tray, movement, and play therapies. Many of these expressive modalities allows individuals, especially children, to use symbols instead of words to describe their internal experiences and discover new meaning.
Children have feelings, both good and bad, that they are unable to address verbally.
It is critical to choose a therapist who is skilled in interacting with children at the child’s level. Children are not miniature adults, and counselors must adjust any counseling intervention to the child’s current level of development. When counseling a child, it is imperative that the therapist approach each child holistically by assessing the child’s thoughts, observable behavior, family systems and social/peer systems.
What is Filial Therapy?
Filial therapy is an extension of play therapy that invites the caregivers to act as the primary agents of change. Filial therapy may be an important adjunct service to your child’s play therapy, or it may be the primary approach to treatment. Under the supervision of the counselor, the caregiver(s) will be taught specific play therapy techniques and will practice these new skills during weekly “special play times” held either on-site or at home. Sessions will focus on reviewing successes and challenges that occurred during these “special play times” and learning new ways to enhance the sense of positive connection between parent and child.
How Does Filial Therapy Work?
Similarly to play therapy, filial therapy allows children to use the language of play to explore their internal experiences. Filial therapy offers the unique advantage of strengthening the child-parent interaction while creating a safe place for self-exploration. This approach can assist your child in developing or maintaining a secure attachment style through the attunement and emotional connection that are central to this relationship-based intervention.
How Can Filial Therapy Help?
Filial therapy can offer many benefits for both you and your child, including:
– Enhanced emotional awareness.
– Improvement in empathy & understanding within the parent – child relationship.
– Increased confidence (for both you and your child).
– Strengthened executive functioning skills through decision making opportunities for your child.
– Improvement in your child’s ability to regulate him or herself and comply with limits. Stress reduction for both you and your child.
Things truly can get better with the help of a trained mental health professional.
Call or text us to get your video therapy appointment set up right away. We are here to help!