Child Therapy
Is Your Child Struggling With Their Mental Health?
Have you noticed some concerning changes in your child’s behavior?
Are they having frequent tantrums or meltdowns, or acting out at home or in school?
Are you concerned that they might be suffering from anxiety, depression, or ADHD?
Maybe your child has trouble using their words or expressing how they feel. Because they can’t articulate their big emotions, you struggle to understand what’s going on and how you can help them. They might seem unusually withdrawn and less interested in the activities that other kids their age love. Perhaps they don’t want to go to school, refuse to leave their room, and seem worried about things that never used to bother them. For the first time, you may be thinking of talking to a child therapist.
You Might Worry That Your Child’s Struggles Are Reflective Of Your Parenting
As a parent, coming to terms with the fact that your child does not exhibit the best of behaviors at school or at home is difficult. You might have trouble understanding why your child doesn’t behave normally and what you can do to help. Sometimes, you might internalize their emotional issues and blame yourself, asking: Where did I go wrong? What could I have done differently? Why am I the only parent struggling?
The truth is that parenting is tremendous work and you are not alone in your struggles. Here at Sunrise Counseling Services, we recognize all the effort you’ve put into raising your child. We believe that you don’t have to do all the heavy lifting by yourself. Our therapists are skilled in a vast array of different specialties and we are confident that we can help your child learn to regulate their emotions, improve their confidence, and achieve peace of mind.
It's Normal For Children To Deal With Anxiety, Depression, And Other Mental Health Issues
Childhood is a vulnerable time of life. Kids have to deal with bullying, peer pressure, high academic expectations, and many other challenges. Nowadays, they have the added stress of living in an increasingly online world. So much of what kids see on social media can have a negative influence on them. Across social media, they’re exposed to harmful content, distressing news, and unrealistic standards for success and popularity. It’s no wonder so many children suffer from anxiety, depression, and other mental health disorders.
What’s more, children often lack the cognitive and emotional maturity to fully understand and manage their challenges independently. Many of them don’t have the coping skills to navigate complex emotions or make sense of painful experiences in their lives. This is why it’s so crucial for children to have extra support and learn coping skills and tools for expressing themselves and their emotions effectively.
Parents Often Feel Overwhelmed Trying To Solve Their Children’s Problems
Trying to decipher a child’s emotional and psychological turmoil can be very challenging. Sometimes children struggle because of major life changes, such as moving, going to a new school, or dealing with divorced parents. Other times, however, their mental health issues don’t have any obvious explanation. And because kids aren’t articulate enough to communicate all their feelings, trying to find an explanation can feel like rocket science.
The good news is that our therapists have lots of experience helping children improve their mental health. With your assistance, we believe that we can get to the bottom of your child’s struggles and help them achieve their hopes and dreams.
Therapy Provides A Fun, Creative Space For Your Child To Learn Real-Life Skills
Early intervention is crucial when it comes to helping kids work through mental health issues. Sending your child to therapy at a young age gives them a significant advantage in life, since it can equip them with the emotional intelligence to handle the challenges of adulthood. At Sunrise Counseling Services, your child will learn real-life skills for managing big emotions, navigating difficult social situations, and connecting with you on a deeper level.
Our sessions are safe, nurturing, and deeply engaging. We use art, play, and lots of other kid-friendly activities to help children express themselves and work through their emotional hangups. Our therapists provide treatment for a wide range of childhood mental health issues, including anxiety, depression, ADHD, trauma, and various behavioral problems.
What To Expect In Child Counseling Sessions
During the initial intake session, we will sit down with you to talk about your child’s needs, strengths, and concerns. This is a chance to go over your child’s background, family dynamics, and any specific challenges they’re facing. After that, we’ll begin meeting with your child and create a counseling plan that’s tailored to their situation.
Some of the main approaches that we use to help children are outlined below:
Play Therapy—This therapeutic approach uses play as a way for children to express themselves, process emotions, and work through challenges. Play therapy utilizes toys, games, and creative activities to help children communicate and understand their feelings.
Art Therapy—Art therapy allows children to express themselves non-verbally through art materials. It's especially useful for children who may have difficulty verbalizing their emotions or experiences.
Cognitive Behavioral Play Therapy—Building on the principles of CBT, this approach helps children identify and modify negative thought patterns while incorporating play-based activities to engage and connect with them.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy—This modality focuses on improving the parent-child relationship by teaching parents positive parenting techniques and strategies for managing their child’s behavioral issues.
No matter what approach works best for your child, we believe that we can help them build on their strengths, foster resilience, and acquire the coping strategies that will serve them throughout their lives. Along the way, we’ll equip you with the parenting skills to support them on their journey toward wellness.
You May Have Some Questions About Child Therapy…
What should we expect in a typical child counseling session?
Establishing trust is crucial in helping your child open up about their troubles. Their counselor will create a safe and welcoming environment where they can feel comfortable sharing their thoughts and feelings. Depending on the interests and preferences of your child, we may utilize art therapy or play therapy so that counseling is fun and engaging for them
How will I know if therapy is helping my child?
Pay attention to whether your child is using the coping skills they’ve learned to manage stress and anxiety. You can also look for positive changes in behavior, such as less acting out, improved self-control, and better handling of conflict. Additionally, we encourage you to help your child practice the skills they learn in counseling. Since you are with your child every day, your involvement is essential to their healing and growth.
Can therapy actually benefit my child?
Our therapists have been able to help many children improve their mental health and we are confident that we can help your child, too. Counseling gives your child a safe space to explore their emotions, learn to cope with stress, and find solutions to everyday problems. We want to help them handle difficult situations at home, at work, and with their peers.
It’s Time To Take The Next Step
If you are ready to set your child on the path to success, we encourage you to pursue therapy with us. We are more than willing and ready to take that step with you and your family. To get started, email us, use the contact form, or call 931-494-6803.
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