Child and Adolescent Therapy

• Does your child have trouble dealing with their emotions?
• Is their behavior sometimes disruptive to your home life?
• Have they experienced sudden loss or trauma?

As they grow, children and adolescents develop social skills and emotional intelligence. This awareness helps them to develop into healthy, happy, and successful individuals. 

But some children have trouble processing their emotions and this often leads to behavior that negatively impacts their school life, home life, and overall well-being.

Effective Forms of Therapy for Children and Adolescents

Therapy offers children and adolescents a safe space to work through their thoughts and emotions. With the help of a specialized therapist, children can resolve problems, modify behaviors, and make positive and lasting changes.

The following are a few different types of therapy available to children and families. Each offers unique approaches and techniques to bring about positive outcomes. Sometimes a therapist may choose to use just one specific treatment, and other times he or she may find a combination of various treatments is the best approach.

Play and Movement Therapy

Children learn to understand the world and their place in it through play. It’s where they’re free to act out their inner feelings and deepest emotions. Toys can act as symbols and take on greater meaning — if you know what to look for.

Since the child can’t adequately express themselves in the adult world, the therapist joins the child in their world, on their level. 

Techniques can include:

• Storytelling

• Role-playing

• Toy phones

• Puppets, stuffed animals, and masks

• Dolls, action figures

• Arts and crafts

• Water and sand play

• Blocks and construction toys

• Dance and creative movement

• Musical play

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

ACT helps children and adolescents process their inner emotions. ACT provides context and understanding to emotions that can seem overwhelming. This allows children and adolescents to work through emotions and move forward.

Family Therapy

Family therapy is great for helping families improve communication so they can resolve issues. Sessions can include the entire family, including children, siblings, parents, and grandparents, or just one or two individuals.

Who is Therapy Right for?

At every age, children can be faced with life’s challenges. 

The following are some of the events and scenarios that can impact a child’s mental health and well-being:

• The death of a loved one

• Bullying

• Physical or sexual abuse

• Domestic violence

• Moving or attending a new school

• Divorce

• Social anxiety

• Depression

• ADHD

• Eating disorders

Therapy is not a quick fix to a child’s behavioral or emotional issues. 

It is instead a thoughtful and comprehensive process that provides children with insights and skills so that they may become masters of their thoughts and feelings. 

This, in essence, is how children develop into happy, healthy, and successful adults.

Here are some books from the recommended reading page for Children. 

Michelle and Moshe work with children ages 5 yrs – 12 yrs to help you navigate through these challenges. 

If you would like to explore treatment options for your child/adolescent, please give our office a call.