Child Counseling
Are You Concerned About Your Child’s Behavior And Not Sure How To Help?
Is your child acting out in school? Are they struggling to keep up with all their responsibilities and stay organized? Has their behavior changed all of a sudden and you’re not sure why?
Maybe your child has been struggling with anxiety or depression, but they don’t understand what’s going on inside of them. Perhaps they’ve been falling behind in school and passing in homework late. Or maybe they’ve experienced an upsetting event and acting out is their way of coping with the pain.
Reasons You Might Be Thinking Of Counseling For Your Child
If your child is starting to behave differently and act out more, you might not be sure what to do. Some reasons you might consider taking them to therapy for children are:
Emotional outbursts
Trouble at school
Anxiety
Trauma
Grief and loss
Parental divorce
Family conflict
Poor social skills
Nightmares and bedwetting
School refusal
It can be heartbreaking to watch your child struggle. Your efforts to help them show how much you care. But these behaviors could be a sign that it’s time to get guidance and support. At Monarch Behavioral Health, we have a team of skilled therapists who are trained to help your child work through tough times and succeed socially, academically, and in every area of life.
It's Normal For Kids To Struggle In School And Deal With Mental Health Issues
As adults, we don’t often consider what’s stressful to a child. From our vantage point of age and experience, what children are dealing with every day might seem inconsequential. However, there are many things in a child’s life that can lead to anxiety, depression, and other mental health issues.
Issues in school are one of the biggest factors in childhood stress. Some children deal with bullying or struggle to fit into social groups. Others have learning difficulties or an undiagnosed neurodevelopmental disorder like ADHD or autism. Even if a child does well academically, the pressure to succeed can put too much stress on them.
Outside of school, dealing with changing family dynamics like divorce, moving, and living with a new sibling can lead to overwhelming emotions a child might struggle to handle on their own.
Stigma Can Be A Barrier To Seeking Counseling For Children
Mental health treatment is often stigmatized, especially for children. Many people think that counseling or therapy is only for devastating trauma or more severe issues, however children who are dealing with typical day-to-day stressors can still benefit from counseling.
At Monarch Behavioral Health we know that counseling has the potential to help your child, no matter what they’re dealing with. It can help them improve their behavior, cope with difficult situations, and build a better connection with you in the process.
With Counseling, Your Child Can Learn To Cope With Their Emotions and Express Who They Really Are
Let’s face it: your child probably doesn’t feel like talking to just any adult. Many adults may invalidate the struggles of childhood and act like being a kid is easy. Here at Monarch Behavioral Health, we take children’s emotional wellbeing very seriously. Counseling can give your child a place to work through the lasting effects of trauma, anxiety, or depression. Our counselors provide a safe space where your child can address the underlying issues that might be causing their struggles and behavior.
Through therapy, your child can build resilience by identifying the emotions they’re feeling, learning how to express themselves in a productive way, and developing coping skills that will benefit them throughout their life.
What To Expect In Child Counseling Sessions
When you first contact Monarch Behavioral Health we will schedule an intake session with you as your child’s parent or guardian. This way you can tell us about your concerns and we can get an understanding of any changes that may have taken place in your child’s life.
First and foremost, we want to build rapport with your child by getting to know them and helping them feel comfortable. If your child is on the younger side, you’re welcome to be involved in their sessions while they’re still getting used to therapy. With older children, we usually suggest sessions one-on-one with the therapist so that they can share their feelings without worrying about what anyone else will think.
Throughout the process, your child’s therapist will work with you to help you implement behavioral management techniques in your home to support your child with everything they’re learning in therapy. After all, you know your child better than anyone else. That’s why we want you to play an important role in their journey.
Child-Centered Techniques Tailored To Each Child
Each individual child has their own path and the therapy process ebbs and flows throughout their journey. Children express themselves through play, so we incorporate play and games in therapy to help your child open up and process their emotions. This unique form of therapy is designed to address your child’s concerns by creating a safe and enjoyable environment for them to express themselves.
The type of play therapy used during each session will be determined on a case-by-case basis. But common activities your child may take part in include:
Playing with dolls
Building with blocks
Playing with toys
Reading books
Crafts or art activities
Puppet play
Games
Board Games
Another technique we often use is sand tray therapy. This technique can help your child express themselves through the use of miniature toys and objects in a sand tray. This can help them create scenes that mirror their own life experience. It also allows them to re-create their narrative and come up with new solutions for overcoming their obstacles.
Our therapists will work with your child throughout their counseling journey to help them manage their big emotions, learn new social skills, and experience peace of mind. Along the way, we want to help you be their number-one cheerleader and biggest source of emotional support.
You May Still Have Concerns About Counseling For Your Child…
I’m concerned about my child’s behavior, but I don’t know if we have enough money to send them to counseling.
We understand that counseling can be a commitment of time and money. But we also know how immensely beneficial it can be. That’s why we do our best to make counseling as accessible as possible for your family. We accept insurance and we also offer sliding scale fees. We are also open on evenings and weekends to alleviate the need for you to miss work or cause your child to miss school.
How will I know how my child’s therapy sessions are going?
Parent involvement is a key part of the process of your child’s treatment plan. Depending on your child’s age and comfort level, you have the option of attending sessions with them. Even if you aren’t attending sessions with your child, you will have scheduled check-ins to learn about your child’s progress and discuss your concerns. We are always working together with you and your child to create the best outcome for both of you.
I’m worried my child won’t want to go to counseling.
Talking to your child about going to counseling can be very helpful.. You can let them know that it’s a safe place to share information and that it’s okay to talk to someone about what they’re struggling with. If they’re unsure, you can schedule a session where you and your child can meet with a therapist together. This way, they can learn about how therapy works and feel less anxious because you’re in the room with them.
Counseling Can Provide Support To Help Your Child Cope With New Experiences
Working with a therapist can help your child work through difficult situations and overwhelming emotions. If you want to talk to a child counselor, you can contact Monarch Behavioral Health to schedule an appointment.
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