In therapy with children, the therapist works closely with parents to tailor care to the child’s symptoms and issues. The aim is to assist both the child and parents in effectively tackling challenges, acquiring new knowledge and skills, and fostering stronger relationships.
Children come into our lives without instruction manuals or FAQs, leaving us to navigate their complexities on our own. From infancy to adulthood, we’re tasked with nurturing them into responsible members of society. However, distinguishing between typical development and more serious issues can be challenging. Consulting with a professional can provide clarity and guidance, helping us devise effective strategies for change when needed.
Examples of areas in which we work with children and adolescents:
- Anxiety and depression
- Low self-esteem, shyness
- Anger outbursts, emotional regulation and bullying
- Supporting a child through divorce or loss of a loved one
- Trauma or abuse
- Identity issues
- Self-mutilation
- Developmental, family and life transitions
- Adoption concerns
- Sibling rivalries
Here are some questions to consider when deciding if your child would benefit from therapy:
- Has your child asked to talk to someone about life challenges?
- Has your child experienced significant loss through separation, divorce or death?
- Are you seeing isolation, sadness, significant irritability, or loss of interest in things that used to interest your child?
- Is your child having suicidal thoughts?
- Is your child having difficulty going to school or is school performance suffering?
- Is your child reporting or demonstrating symptoms of anxiety?
- Is your child struggling to make friends?
If you answered “yes” to some of these questions, your child may benefit from seeing a professional therapist to address these concerns. Many children respond well to therapy and experience significant improvement. A therapist can also help you decipher when an adjustment in parenting or a change in environment would be helpful. For more information on this see Parenting Concerns & Consultation.
PLAY THERAPY
Because play is children’s primary mode of communication, play therapy effectively aids in addressing issues and acquiring new skills through play. It offers insights into a child’s inner world. Typically, it involves a combination of individual sessions and parent consultations or family sessions. Research supports the effectiveness of play therapy with a wide variety of social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems including, but not limited to:
- Chronic illness
- Traumatic experience
- Behavioral problems
- Attachment issues