How Can A Therapist Help Your Child?

Adults aren’t the only ones who need and benefit from therapy. Parent’s do not have the same knowledge as a trained child therapist. Therefore, some label their children’s behaviors as ‘kids being kids’ when in reality, there is an underlying diagnosis. A child therapist has the knowledge and vocabulary to give a name/condition to the behavior that a child is exhibiting. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has estimated that 1 in 6 children aged between 2-8 years old in the United States have a diagnosed mental, developmental, or behavioral disorder, thus children’s mental health issues should never be overlooked. 

In younger children, some of the behaviors that indicate that they may need to see a mental health professional are:

• Agitation/irritability
• Bedwetting
• Separation anxiety
• Extreme fearfulness
• Clinginess
• Persistent sadness
• Low energy levels
• Social withdrawal
• Constantly demonstrating defiant behavior 
• Changes in appetite
• Lack of concentration
• Sleep Pattern changes

What Methods Will The Child Therapist Use?

So how can a therapist help your child? Therapists can help builds helpful thinking patterns 
and healthy behavioral habits.  Additionally, they also give praise and support as kids learn, while helping them believe in themselves and find their strengths. Through these methods, a therapist can help your child take more responsibility for certain behaviors they exhibit and cultivate coping strategies and problem-solving skills. Regular sessions with a therapist can help your child alleviate their anxiety, strengthen their social skills, gain self-respect and empathy, and learn to express their thoughts and feelings in a healthy manner. Moreover, Play therapy can also improve fine and gross motor skills.

Mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in children that go untreated can cause long term problems such as health problems and difficulty transitioning into adulthood healthily. Parents can also be involved in their child’s therapy in which the parent discusses their child’s behavior with the therapist and/or the therapist observes the child and parents interactions and can suggest alternative ways for parents to react.

By getting your child’s mental health problems treated as soon as possible, your child will be able to manage their symptoms better and their improved mental health can therefore result in stronger family relationships. 

If you are looking for a child therapist or would like to learn more about this service, follow this link or call the office to schedule a free 15-minute consultation