Child Therapy
With the right guidance, children can learn to understand their emotions, communicate more effectively, and develop coping skills that will build a strong foundation for well-being.
What Is Child Therapy?
Children experience a wide range of emotions as they grow and experience the world. It is common for them to feel sad, angry, or worried, especially if they are dealing with changes at home, challenges at school, social difficulties, or if they are unsure how to cope with a new situation.
However, if those feelings start to show up more often or begin to interfere with their functioning in daily life, child therapy can help. If your child is displaying difficulties with emotional control, challenging behaviors, heightened anxiety, or dealing with transitions, therapy is a safe and nonjudgmental place to talk about what is going on and learn effective ways to cope.
Child therapy at Positive Development Psychology is individually tailored and rooted in best practices and the child’s developmental needs. We work closely with both children and their caregivers, because lasting change happens when skills are not only used in the therapy room, but at home, in school, and in everyday life.
When Might a Child Benefit from Therapy?
Sometimes, the indications are obvious. Sometimes, they are a little more subtle. Some children withdraw; others act out or seem overwhelmed. While each child presents differently, intervening early through child therapy can foster emotional growth and build skills that can benefit your child for years to come.
A few of the common reasons families seek child therapy include:
- Worrying too much, fearing things, or avoiding situations that cause anxiety
- Tantrums or disruptive behaviors
- Having a hard time managing strong feelings
- Challenges with relationships, including parent-child conflict
- Difficulty coping with transitions
- Struggles with self-confidence
What to Expect in Child Therapy
Child therapy at Positive Development Psychology begins with a thorough intake process. Prior to beginning treatment, parents are sent a detailed background questionnaire and parent rating scales to help guide the initial assessment process. During the intake session, we meet with parents to take a deeper dive into their child’s history, strengths, and challenges, as well as to identify preliminary treatment goals together.
When treatment starts, every session is individualized based on the child’s age, developmental needs, and goals. It can be unreasonable to expect a young child to independently implement a skill taught by a therapist when they are feeling frustrated or anxious in real-life situations. Therefore, for young children, it is common for sessions to focus primarily on parent-based treatment approaches.
Older children who engage in individual therapy sessions can learn coping, problem-solving, and communication skills. Sessions include engaging, child-friendly activities that help them express and manage emotions. No matter the age of the child, we keep parents involved through ongoing communication, collaborative goal setting, and strategies you can use at home to support progress.
Some common goals of child therapy include:
- Establishing emotional awareness and vocabulary
- Learning to cope with intense emotions in adaptive ways
- Changing unhelpful thinking or behavioral patterns
- Increasing self-confidence and independence
- Fostering more positive parent-child interactions
- Improving communication skills
- Developing problem-solving abilities
- Supporting the child to help them feel understood and encouraged
Evidence-Based Interventions in Child Therapy
We rely on effective strategies to empower children and their parents with tools to support social, emotional, and behavioral development.
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) helps children understand the connection between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Children are taught to identify and change unhelpful thinking and behavioral patterns which helps them to face challenges, develop coping abilities, improve confidence, and ultimately feel better.
Parent-Based Interventions
We offer parent-based treatment options that do not require the child to attend sessions. These interventions can be utilized independently or in combination with other therapy approaches. Utilizing a parent model can prove especially helpful in situations when children are too young or are resistant to participate in the therapy process. Parent-based treatment options include:
- Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE): A structured anxiety treatment program, developed at the Yale Child Study Center, that helps parents make changes to their own behavior in an effort to best support their anxious child.
- Behavioral Parent Training (BPT): An evidence-based treatment that equips parents with specific skills to address noncompliant or defiant child behaviors, increase desirable behaviors, and foster more positive parent-child relationships.
Our Child Therapy Expertise
Effective Practices
Our team uses evidence-based therapies tailored to each child’s unique needs. These approaches include research-backed methods, including Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT), Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions (SPACE), and Behavioral Parent Training (BPT), among others.
Training & Experience
At Positive Development Psychology, your child will work with a licensed therapist who has expertise in child development and mental health. We use up-to-date approaches and have a deep understanding of what children and families need to feel supported, understood, and empowered.
Compassionate and Collaborative Approach
We believe therapy works best when the child, family, and therapist come together as one team. We partner closely with families to set meaningful goals and share helpful tools, as well as encourage open communication regarding the child’s progress throughout the course of therapy.
Supporting a Child Through Therapy
If you are reading this, you have already taken the first step in finding the right help. Whether your child is having difficulty managing emotions, avoiding anxiety-producing situations, facing challenges at school, or going through a life change, child therapy can offer the guidance and support they need. Child therapy is not about changing your child; it is about helping them grow into the best version of themselves with the social, emotional, and behavioral tools and support they need.
Tips for parents supporting a child in therapy:
- Be open and nonjudgmental when your child expresses feelings
- Express confidence in your child’s ability to handle anxiety or other challenges
- Encourage your child and reinforce therapy skills at home
- Create consistent routines to reduce uncertainty
- Praise small steps and efforts and reinforce desired behaviors
- Model healthy coping strategies
- Ask your child’s therapist how you can help
FAQs About Child Therapy
How long is child therapy?
Every child is different and treatment length depends on a number of factors. However, generally speaking, many of the evidence-based treatments that we provide, such as CBT, are designed to be more short term. Child sessions are typically 45 minutes on a weekly basis, but this will vary depending on needs and goals. Parent sessions are often 45 or 60 minutes.
Should I tell my child about therapy beforehand?
Yes. Presenting therapy as a beneficial and safe experience creates a foundation for success. It is often helpful to use simple, positive language to explain that they will be seeing someone who assists children with strong feelings or any challenges. Comparing a therapist to a sports coach or a dance or music teacher—someone to help them develop skills that they will practice—can also make therapy more relatable. Consult with your therapist regarding the best way to discuss therapy with your child.
Will I be involved in my child’s therapy sessions?
Parent involvement is a big part of child therapy. When children attend their own individual therapy sessions, parent sessions are also periodically held to discuss progress and provide guidance so you can support the process at home. We also offer parent-based treatment approaches that can be used on their own or alongside other therapies to best meet your family’s needs.
What if my child does not want to go to therapy?
It is to be expected that some kids may resist going to therapy. Our therapists understand how to approach children where they are at, make them feel comfortable, and utilize age-appropriate activities to engage children in the therapy process. However, if a child refuses to participate, we also offer parent-based treatment options that do not require your child to attend sessions.
What are some signs my child might benefit from therapy?
If your child is feeling overwhelmed, is being held back by worries, exhibits difficulty following parent requests or household rules, or is struggling at home, school, or with peers, it may be wise to seek some assistance. Therapy can teach children new coping, communication, and problem-solving skills and help them feel more confident.
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