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5,871 people sought child therapy help in New Jersey in the last year

Discover how starting therapy with a child can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

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Lara Carter

Hear from Lara Carter, Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW)

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What is your go-to approach for child therapy?

Therapy for children often helps the children and caregivers to focus on how to help the children find ways to cope with their emotions in age-appropriate ways, and provide support for the caregivers to be more attentive to their child's needs.

What tools do you teach in child therapy?

I teach that children have emotions just like adults do! Children have the same emotions as we do as adults, but often don't have the language to be able to verbalize their feelings. In therapy for children, tools often focusing on helping children to verbalize their feelings to their caregivers, and develop coping strategies that they can understand to know how to express their feelings in healthy ways.

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in child therapy?

I know a client is making progress when the child is able to recognize their feelings more effectively, and the caregiver is able to respond to their child's needs.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement child therapy?

Caregivers can spend time outside of therapy to bond more with their child in an emotional way, such as using certain games to help their child communicate more, or facilitating family meetings at home to help the child feel like they have the opportunity to say what's on their mind.

What should someone do to prepare for starting child therapy?

Caregivers should be prepared to give an overview as to what behaviors they have observed with their child in recent history, and discuss any interventions they have utilized so far. This can include interventions through the child's school, discipline at home, or behavioral modification activities that they have tried, and discuss the effectiveness of these interventions. This will help give your therapist an idea of where they can start the work with you and your child.

Starting Child therapy

What is child therapy?

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 Paramus.

How does child therapy work?

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 Paramus, NJ have the expertise and experience to help kids at their level.

Play therapy vs. child therapy

Child therapy is a type of therapy meant for clients within a specific age group, while play therapy is an approach to therapy that helps children with self-expression and stress relief, among others. Play therapy is a technique that is often used in child therapy to help children express what’s running through their minds when they do not have the words to express their thoughts and emotions. It can get children to express what’s wrong, what might be causing unwanted behaviors, or what they might need in a way that is accessible to them so that therapists can then work to treat the issue.

How to tell if my child needs counseling

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.

What type of therapy is best for children?

Cognitive behavioral therapy at Thriveworks in Paramus, NJ is one of the best types of therapy for children. However, it can be administered in child therapy sessions in a variety of ways that are more accessible to young minds, such as play therapy.

Is child therapy conducted in person or online?

Child therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.

How long does child therapy last?

The length of child therapy depends on your child’s needs as well as the goals that you and their therapist might have for them. Generally, child therapy sessions will last for several months.

How much does child therapy cost?

At Thriveworks, we take most major forms of insurance, which means that many of our clients only pay a $0-$50 co-pay per session. However, there are also self-pay options that sit around $200 per session, depending on the service and location, for those who are out-of-network.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Paramus therapists and counselors accept 29 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • AmeriHealth Administrators

  • AmeriHealth Medicare Advantage

  • AmeriHealth New Jersey

  • AmeriHealth Pennsylvania

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

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Self-pay costs at Paramus
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

4.5 Learn about verified reviews
★★★★★
Our Family Therapy sessions have been sent from heaven. Rosalie Cespedes brings professionalism, care, experience and love to our session. It is hard to find a person that all the family respects and appreciates her advice. My two daughters and wife truly appreciate her advice and the positive changes has made to our daily lives. We will definitely continue working with her long term and encourage any family or person going through personal challenges and need professional; honest advice to try working with her. Thank you for all you have done.
Read more Our Family Therapy sessions have been sent from heaven. Rosalie Cespedes brings professionalism, care, experience and love to our session. It is hard to find a person that all the family respects and appreciates her advice. My two daughters and wife truly appreciate her advice and the positive changes has made to our daily lives. We will definitely continue working with her long term and encourage any family or person going through personal challenges and need professional; honest advice to try working with her. Thank you for all you have done.
Sandy Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review
★★★★
So far it's OK. I say ok because there is a big age difference between the therapist and myself. Maybe by 25yrs or so.
Read more So far it's OK. I say ok because there is a big age difference between the therapist and myself. Maybe by 25yrs or so.
Frank Feb 2024
Thriveworks.com verified review

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks in Paramus, NJ is located on Sunflower Ave, just off of State Route 17 and west of Di Maggio Park. We're in the same building as House Window Replacement & Installation and Harvest Property and Investment, and are neighbored by Exxon and Renell Label Print. The closest bus stop is Rt 17 and Ridgewood Ave.

Phone number

(973) 529-8913

Languages spoken by NJ providers

  • English
  • Spanish
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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