Knowing when a child needs to see a therapist can be tricky. Kids don’t always have the emotional control or communication skills to verbalize their needs or feelings. During difficult times, kids may think they must protect their parents and not add to their pain. Therapy can provide a safe place for kids to grieve without feeling like they need to spare someone else’s feelings.

Signs a Child Might Need to See a Therapist

Actions speak louder than words. Kids often cannot verbalize their pain, so they can show it through actions. Keep an eye on a child expressing behaviors that are not typical. These behaviors include:

• Uncontrollable Crying
• Anger or Aggressiveness
• Social Withdrawal
• Clinginess
• Bedwetting or other regressive behaviors after they are no longer appropriate for the child’s age or mental capability

What Kind of Therapy is Available for Children?

Child therapy differs from adult therapy. A therapist must tailor each session to the child’s development stage. Additionally, the therapy must change and grow as the child transitions from child to adolescent to teenager. Therefore, we recommend seeking a therapist with specific training in researched-based methods for kids. The type of therapy needed will differ for each child, but four primary therapies exist.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

As one of the most common therapies for children, CBT is beneficial for children experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. During CBT, kids learn to recognize and understand thought patterns contributing to depression and anxiety. Then, over time, they know how to change those behavior patterns to facilitate healthier thinking.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

DBT works to combine mindfulness and coping skills to help children learn to regulate their emotions. Children’s world feels less chaotic and scary when they know to control their feelings. DBT teaches children to work with and change their feelings and behaviors.

Family-Focused Treatment (FFT)

When a whole family gets therapy, a child thrives. Children learn new ways to express themselves to their parents and learn about problem-solving strategies. In FFT, the entire family knows to improve their interaction, communication, and behavioral patterns.

Why We Choose Play Therapy

While there are many evidence-based therapies for children, play therapy is one of the primary methods we use at Family-Strategies Counseling & Mediation. Not only does play therapy builds on the natural way that children learn about the world, but play therapy has proven to help children with various social, emotional, behavioral, and learning problems. They know about being more responsible for their behaviors and develop more successful coping strategies. Through play therapy, children learn:

•  How to Communicate with others
• Express Feelings
• Teaching Empathy
• Modify Behaviors
• Develop Problem-Solving Skills
• Processing Sexual Abuse

Involving the Family

We use a variety of methods inside play therapy, but we often encourage family involvement as well. Families play an essential role in a child’s healing process, and family relationships can be complex. Sometimes children develop problems to signal there is something wrong within a family. Other times the child’s behavior is a source of distress for the whole family. Therefore, a play therapist will often communicate regularly with the child’s caretakers to develop a plan to resolve problems. Sometimes, a therapist might recommend direct caretaker involvement in play therapy.

Conclusion

Children don’t always make it known when they need therapy because they cannot verbalize what they need or feel. If a child is excessively crying, aggressive, or experiencing unexplained bedwetting, seeking out, a child therapist might be a good option. The kinds of therapy available for children range based on the issues they are experiencing. Family-Strategies Counseling & Mediation often use play therapy to help children learn communication and coping skills. In addition, the therapist might recommend varying degrees of familial involvement in play therapy.

Family Strategies Counseling & Mediation is a therapy office serving the Chicagoland Area. We offer couples counseling and mental health services. Our therapists are skilled at working with those struggling to process traumatic events. Call our office at (708) 798-5433 or email us at info@Family-Strategy.com for appointment details.