At FamilyWorks, we know that young children are not just small adults. They have a distinct way of looking at the world and are concrete-thinkers until close to middle-school age. As their young brains develop socially, emotionally, and cognitively, therapy can take many forms. Counseling with kids can involve: play therapy, talk therapy, skill-building exercises, psychoeducation, role-playing, and developing a vocabulary of affective words to understand the emotional nuance.
Additionally, it is vital that children learn how thoughts and feelings impact behavior. Once we establish the foundation of how and why kids behave as they do, we begin to break down each element. We teach them to identify the preceding physical sensations which serve as red flags for surging emotions, contributing to their distress. Over time, as children learn they have a greater degree of control than they originally thought, they begin to feel freer and more comfortable in their social interaction.
FamilyWorks therapists can address the following child concerns:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Anger/Oppositional Behavior
- Trauma
- Family Strife/Divorce
- Eating Concerns
- Sleeping Concerns
- Low Self-Esteem
- Grief & Loss
- Learning Challenges
- Attentional Concerns
- Executive Function Deficits
- Stress Management
- Autism Spectrum Disorders
- Sensory Concerns
- Communication Disorders
- High-Risk Behaviors (self-harm, running away, substance abuse, etc.)