Child therapy, also known as counseling for kids, helps young individuals better understand and manage the challenges that affect their mental health. Common challenges amongst kids include behavioral issues, trauma, bullying, depression, and anxiety. All ages of children can attend and benefit from child therapy at Thriveworks .
Child therapy works by using multiple techniques tailored to fit the child’s needs based on their age group, their challenges, and the severity of their challenges. It might involve play therapy for younger kids or cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, art therapy, and others for varying ages. In any case, Thriveworks child therapists in , MO have the expertise and experience to help kids at their level.
It’s not always obvious when a child should see a therapist for their behavior, though in the midst of challenges like divorce, loss, bullying, and other mental health conditions, it’s often a good idea to seek it out. Common behaviors that can indicate a need for child therapy include separation anxiety, bedwetting (at inappropriate ages), and agitation/excessive irritability — especially if it reaches a point of physical violence.
Many parents make the mistake of assuming their children are fine or will be fine—even in the face of adversity. They encounter a bully at school; they get into a fight with their friends; they go through their first breakup; they start to fall behind in their classes. And their parents assume that it’s just a stage, that everything will be fine. But the truth is that these challenges can have a serious impact on the child’s mental health and wellbeing now and for many years to come. When a child or teen is confronted with adversity, they often need a little guidance and support in figuring out how to navigate the problem in front of them.
Children are living beings—more living than grown-up people
who have built shells of habit around themselves. Therefore, it is absolutely
necessary for their mental health and development that they should not have
mere schools for their lessons, but a world whose guiding spirit is personal love.”
–Rabindranath Tagore
Fortunately, there are mental health professionals dedicated to helping kids and teens who are struggling. These professionals are called child therapists. They understand the help that these young minds need and how to offer this help. Thriveworks Missouri Counseling is proud to introduce our very own child therapists and psychologists. These providers have impressed us with their level of skills, training, experience, and care. They provide their young clients with the compassionate, personalized care you’d want for your child. If this sounds like something you’d like to know more about, give us a call. Our scheduling team is here to assist you and get you and your child scheduled.
Child Therapy: Reasons to Pursue Counseling for Your Child
Just as with counseling for adults, there are many reasons to pursue counseling for your child. For example, exposure to a traumatic event like the loss of a family member might warrant a need for professional counseling. Also, behavioral problems, learning difficulties, and social issues might also warrant the need for a professional’s analysis and help.
Child therapy can also prove beneficial for kids who are struggling emotionally. There’s no denying that we experience a wide range of emotions throughout childhood (and into adulthood, for that matter), some of which are hard to endure, understand, manage, communicate. A therapist or counselor can help your child to better work through these emotions in every aspect.
What Does Child Therapy Look Like?
There are specific approaches to child therapy that aren’t usually used in counseling for adults, like play therapy. Play therapy encourages and empowers kids to express themselves through play—they might play with blocks, dolls, dress-up clothes, and so on. All of the aforementioned can help them express themselves and in turn help the therapist to understand what’s going on as well as what their needs are. There are also traditional approaches to counseling that can work for children too, including:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): This type of counseling focuses on replacing negative thoughts and thinking patterns with positive thoughts and thinking patterns. Counselors also use CBT to teach kids coping techniques, which can help with behavioral problems.
- Family therapy: Family therapy can also be beneficial to children, especially if the problems that they are dealing with center around trouble at home or unhealthy relationships with one’s family members. Child therapists can also help parents develop an effective behavior plan for their child.
- Group therapy: Group therapy is also an effective approach to child therapy, especially if the child is displaying behavioral or emotional issues. Group therapy enables them to interact with other kids who have similar problems.
The moral of the story is that child therapy can help any and all children. It can help them grow, heal, and maintain their mental wellbeing for years to come.
Pair Your Child with a Therapist at Thriveworks Missouri Counseling
Thriveworks Missouri Counseling is proud to offer dedicated, compassionate child therapy. We have counselors on our team who have special skills and experience helping kids work through their emotional, behavioral, and mental challenges—of which most children and teens experience to some degree.
If you’ve identified a need for child therapy or you simply think your child could benefit from child therapy, please consider reaching out to Thriveworks Missouri Counseling. Our child therapists can work with your child over video or telephone. And they are excited to get started.
