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 Portage.
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 Portage, MI 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.
Here’s the reality: if you suspect your child would benefit from speaking with a professional, you’re probably right.
After all, as the parent, you know your child best, and if you think something isn’t quite right, it’s a good idea to follow your gut. If it turns out everything is fine, no harm done. And if it turns out your child did need professional intervention, it’s better to intervene sooner rather than later.
Maybe you’re wondering why a child would need therapy—after all, what have they got to be stressed about? You might be surprised. Young people today experience many of the same stressors as adults do, but since they are not fully mature, they experience those stressors as much more immediate.
Here’s the thing: kids change as they go through the stages and phases of growing up. It’s normal. But life isn’t the way it was back in the 70s or 80s. Kids are exposed to adult concepts much earlier, they have nearly unfettered access to the internet—and the potential abuse that entails—and they’re more aware of the concerns of adults than they would have been in years past. That awareness may appear as “maturity,” but it can also create stress and confusion—and a professional Thriveworks Portage/Kalamazoo child therapist can help. Check out this article to learn more about what child psychologists do.
Children have many reasons to need to talk with a professional, including:
- Stress: Stress is usually temporary, caused by an upcoming test or a deadline of some kind. If it goes on for a longer period of time, it can morph into anxiety. Learning healthy methods for coping with stress is important to preventing anxiety and maintaining a healthy outlook.
- Anxiety: Anxiety is the presence of stress even when there’s nothing specific to be stressed about. Chronic anxiety can even impact physical health, and so therapy for children is important to maintaining their health across the board. Anxiety can also be caused by a chemical imbalance.
- Depression: Depression can be chemical, but it can also be situational. In either case, a trusted professional can help the child improve their outlook in a healthy way.
- Self-Esteem: Being a child or teenager is hard. Peers can be very critical of each other, often causing the young person to become self-critical. A neutral third party is often exactly who the young person wants to hear from—instead of parents, who the child may perceive as biased rather than honest.
Those aren’t the only reasons a child or adolescent might need help. Are you noticing any behavioral changes in your child, particularly negative ones? Have they stopped communicating as openly? What about their friendships?
Has your child’s teacher mentioned any behavioral, social, or academic concerns? Has your child experienced a trauma?
If any of the above questions resonate with you, and if you feel the challenges they are facing are having, or might soon have, a negative impact, it’s time to contact a therapist.
Therapy for Children in Portage
The main difference in the therapeutic approach to therapy for children is simple: child therapists will talk to the child in an age-appropriate way. In some cases, play therapy may be used, or the child may be encouraged to draw or write.
If something isn’t quite right with your child, even if you aren’t sure what, call a Thriveworks Portage child psychologist. Our trained professionals specialize in diagnosing and treating children, and they do so in a manner that’s appropriate to the needs and age of the individual child.
Call us. We’re friendly, we promise—and our primary goal is to help your child feel better, get back on track, and live their best life.
