Could My Teen or Child Benefit From Therapy?

Children and teens, just like adults, have things that come up in their daily life that affect how they feel about things, their behaviors, and how they learn. Therapy can be an excellent way for kids to talk and learn about how to work out their problems on their own, how to communicate their emotions, how to cope with different situations, and improve how they feel about themselves. Kids and teens need therapy when the problems they are facing become more than they can handle on their own.

Many therapist are specifically trained to help kids and teens work through tough times, these may include (but are not limited to):

• Family issues (divorce, separations, communication issues, death in the family, etc.)

• School problems

• Bullying

• Issues with friends

• Health problems for self or others

• Dealing with intense emotions

• Improving self esteem

• Helping them deal with different mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, eating issues, self-harm, etc.)

 

How Does Therapy with Kids and Teens Work?

Children learn by doing and by playing. For younger children especially, this can mean drawing, playing, incorporating music, working with the parents or the whole family, on top of talking. For teens it’s about building trust, talking through their feelings, teaching life skills, and problem solving. Therapists will encourage, praise, support, and facilitate growth within their clients. Specific focus will be given on helping kids and teens believe in themselves, find their strengths, build healthy thinking patterns, and healthy behaviors. Therapist will sometimes meet with both the parent and the child/teen or they may meet with the child/teen alone or the parent alone.

How Can You As a Parent Help?

Parents are very important in therapy for a child or a teen because they are important to the functioning of the child/teen. There are many ways that parents can be supportive and helpful while their kids are in therapy. These can include:

• Check in with how your child feels about their therapist/therapy – it’s important that your child feels comfortable with their therapist. Also be aware that therapy can be uncomfortable at times and they may not always enjoy going to therapy.

• Help your child be consistent with their appointments – change happens over time, the more consistent their appointments, the more consistent their change can be.

• Spend time with your child/teen – try to make a daily habit of positive interaction with your child/teen, even if it’s only for a few minutes

• Meet with your child’s therapist – ask questions about how your child is doing and give feedback on behaviors you notice at home, but recognize that even children and teens need some confidentiality with their therapist to make progress.

• Try out any recommendations from the therapist at home, multiple times. Change happens through consistent effort.

• Give praise to your child on what they’re doing well and the efforts they’re making. Try to be as kind and patient as possible, even with discipline and don’t be afraid to admit when you’ve made a mistake.

• Model behavior you would like to see from your child.

 

There are several therapists at Eagle Mountain Counseling who have had special training to work with children and teens. We are also currently offering a group for teens (ages 14-18) and one for children (ages 10-13) that will begin at the end of January. Call us today if you think your child or teen could benefit from therapy!

By Susie Lee, AMFT