Being a kid can be difficult. Many times, as adults, we’re so removed from those early childhood years, that it’s easy to forget how big the challenges of childhood feel. Whether or not an adult perceives a problem, situation, or emotion as “big” doesn’t change the fact that it can be overwhelming to a child.
And being a kid in the U.S. today is getting harder. School shootings are on the rise, inspiring an increase in security measures and routines in schools across the country. The U.S. has the highest rate of children in single-parent homes in the world, and the global COVID-19 pandemic has inflicted new levels of physical and mental distress that children are not immune to.
The good news is that therapy can be very effective in helping children understand what’s affecting them, and in learning how to better manage themselves.
Does my child need counseling?
Kids have bad days like anyone else. A fight with a friend, a bad test score, a sibling rivalry—there are so many normal childhood situations that will naturally make a child moody, distant, or just weird for a bit.
It is also completely normal for children to slightly withdraw, change eating habits or behavior patterns for a time, or act out a bit surrounding major life events or trauma. The death of a family member, a big move, or a divorce are just a few examples of events that can throw a child off balance.
In most of these circumstances, parents and guardians can give the child some extra space, show some extra grace, validate their difficult emotions, and talk through some of those big feelings with their kids. Children will move beyond small setbacks in short order.
When it starts to feel out of control, however, it’s probably time to look into therapy or counseling for your child. Some red flags to look for include:
Eating disorders
Self-harm, or talking about self-harm
Problems in multiple areas - i.e. school, friends, and extracurriculars are all falling apart at the same time
Excessive worry or anxiety
Loss of confidence
Withdrawing from people and activities previously enjoyed
Consistently acting out in negative behavior
If your child seems to be stuck in a downward spiral, and you feel like you don’t know how to help anymore, please talk to someone who can help.
Child Therapy Techniques
There are more than a dozen techniques and strategies for effective child therapy. Two of the most common include:
Cognitive-Based Therapy (CBT) can be extremely helpful, usually for older children. A counselor will help your child identity and name negative emotions and thoughts, and teach them how to take control.
Play therapy is often especially helpful with younger children. Games, crafts, and guided play with a parent and/or counselor can help children express their emotions and concerns more easily than trying to find the words.
Every child is different, and so every child responds to different strategies differently. The counselors at Neema will get to know you and your child first, and will incorporate or provide referrals for whatever treatment approach is most appropriate.
What to Expect from Kids’ Counseling
The counselors at Neema want to make sure you and your child feel comfortable and secure. If you ever have questions or concerns, please feel free to talk to your therapist about them.
At a first meeting, we want to hear your child’s story, so we do a lot of listening. Then, your counselor will recommend the strategy they think will be most effective. At subsequent meetings, the counselor might facilitate games or activities to help a tentative child open up, or talk with your child about problems and how they might overcome them.
Therapy looks different for everyone, and our counselors always welcome parent involvement, feedback, and questions.
Online Therapy for Kids
Online counseling for kids can be just as effective as in-person therapy. Cognitive-based therapy has repeatedly proven to be equally helpful in online sessions and live counseling sessions.
Play therapy has also successfully translated to online counseling. Depending on the age and ability of your child, counselors may coordinate with you ahead of time to have certain items (toys, crayons, paper, etc.) ready. In other situations, online games can be used. In most cases, parents actively participate just as they would during in-person child counseling sessions.
Neema offers online therapy for children across Texas and Florida.
Counseling for Teenagers
Neema does offer counseling for teenagers, but we consider it distinct from child therapy. Teenagers are dealing with much different pressures and issues than smaller children, their brains and bodies are in much different stages of growth, and they are generally much more comfortable on digital platforms for online counseling.
To learn more about how Neema works with teenagers, see our Counseling for Teenagers page →
Kids’ Counseling in Texas: Free Consultation
Being a kid is harder than it’s ever been. More and more parents are seeking counseling for their children, which is very encouraging. It means the next generation will have the skills to communicate clearly, make sense of life’s challenges, and manage their emotions and reactions.
If you are worried about your child, please don’t wait. If you’re anywhere in Texas or Florida, the counselors at Neema would love to get to know your family and see how we might help you and your family heal and grow.
Call us at 512.669.5701 or schedule a free consultation today.