What is child therapy?
Child therapy, also known as counseling for kids, helps young individuals better understand and manage the challenges that affect their mental health. Common challenges amongst kids include behavioral issues, trauma, bullying, depression, and anxiety. All ages of children can attend and benefit from child therapy at Thriveworks Blacksburg.
How does child therapy work?
Child therapy works by using multiple techniques tailored to fit the child’s needs based on their age group, their challenges, and the severity of their challenges. It might involve play therapy for younger kids or cognitive behavioral therapy, dialectical behavioral therapy, art therapy, and others for varying ages. In any case, Thriveworks child therapists in Blacksburg, VA have the expertise and experience to help kids at their level.
Play therapy vs. child therapy
Child therapy is a type of therapy meant for clients within a specific age group, while play therapy is an approach to therapy that helps children with self-expression and stress relief, among others. Play therapy is a technique that is often used in child therapy to help children express what’s running through their minds when they do not have the words to express their thoughts and emotions. It can get children to express what’s wrong, what might be causing unwanted behaviors, or what they might need in a way that is accessible to them so that therapists can then work to treat the issue.
How to tell if my child needs counseling
It’s not always obvious when a child should see a therapist for their behavior, though in the midst of challenges like divorce, loss, bullying, and other mental health conditions, it’s often a good idea to seek it out. Common behaviors that can indicate a need for child therapy include separation anxiety, bedwetting (at inappropriate ages), and agitation/excessive irritability — especially if it reaches a point of physical violence.
What type of therapy is best for children?
Cognitive behavioral therapy at Thriveworks in Blacksburg, VA is one of the best types of therapy for children. However, it can be administered in child therapy sessions in a variety of ways that are more accessible to young minds, such as play therapy.
Is child therapy conducted in person or online?
Child therapy at Thriveworks is conducted both in person and online by video. We encourage you to choose the option that works best for you.
How long does child therapy last?
The length of child therapy depends on your child’s needs as well as the goals that you and their therapist might have for them. Generally, child therapy sessions will last for several months.
How much does child therapy cost?
At Thriveworks, we take most major forms of insurance, which means that many of our clients only pay a $0-$50 co-pay per session. However, there are also self-pay options that sit around $200 per session, depending on the service and location, for those who are out-of-network.
Need more help deciding?
Child Therapy and Counseling in Blacksburg, VA
Some of the things a child mental health professional will look at to determine if the behaviors are problematic.
- Is the child’s behavior very intense?
- Do some behaviors continue after the situation has passed?
- Is the behavior typical for the child’s age level?
- Is the behavior upsetting to the child or other family members?
- Does the behavior interfere with the child’s friendships or school performance?
- Is the behavior inappropriate to the situation?
- Does the behavior happen for no obvious reason?
- Do you or your child avoid important social, school or family activities because of the behavior?
All children are different, and even the most typical child may engage in occasional “problematic” behaviors, particularly when they are tired, stressed or sick. However, if your child repeatedly engages in inappropriate or undesirable behaviors, consider meeting with our highly trained, experienced child therapist here at Thriveworks Blacksburg.
Many of the behavioral problems or mental health symptoms that can keep children and adolescents from leading happy, successful lives can be effectively treated with evidence-based therapies. With these treatments, mental health providers can help parents and children learn how to get along better with others, and to build the skills and habits that help them succeed in school and in life.
Not all mental health therapies for young people are effective, and some treatment options do not work the same for all behavioral and mental health disorders. Our evidence-based therapies use techniques that are based on scientific evidence to understand and treat various behavioral and mental health issues in young people. These techniques offer parents and child alike, the hope of successful treatment, enabling your child to thrive.
Call 540-376-3348 today to schedule an appointment or book online to begin.