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8,221 people sought child therapy help in Georgia in the last year

Discover how starting therapy with a child can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.

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Jordan Bobbitt

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What is your go-to approach for child therapy?

A strong approach for supporting children who are engaging in individual therapy is to use play therapy, narrative therapy, and functional family therapy. Play is often referred to as the universal language between children and adults, which better allows the provider to engage with the child's narrative. Given that children may not always “have” or know the perfect words to say to express their experiences, allowing children to express themselves through play may allow the provider to gain greater insights into the child's executive functioning, behaviors, and interpersonal dynamics. These insights will better inform the provider of the client's narrative and how it can best be honored in the home or family system.

What tools do you teach in child therapy?

Tools that I feel are extremely beneficial to develop in child therapy are:

  • Feeling words: To explore feelings and identify/learn about the words that allow us to share these feelings with ourselves and others.
  • Boundary setting: Supporting the child's understanding of how to appropriately set their boundaries and honoring other's boundaries (parents, siblings, friends, teachers, coaches).
  • Social skills: Opportunities for role-playing social skills like initiating conversations, making friends, and navigating peer relationships.
  • Grounding: Progressive muscle relaxation, guided imagery, tapping, and other body-based relaxation tools to support down-regulation/emotional regulation.
  • Behavior management: Identifying strategies and re-enforcement systems that support the child’s emotional regulation, impulse control, and understanding of consequences, ultimately promoting positive behavioral change.
  • Self-esteem building: Utilization of psychoeducation to support children in building a positive sense of self by creating opportunities for success and mastery.

How do you know when a client is making meaningful progress in child therapy?

Often in child therapy, the role of the parent/guardian is just as vital as the role of the child. Therefore, in order to ensure meaningful progress in child therapy, it is important for the provider to clearly understand and consistently check in on the individual goals of the client and their parents/guardians. Additionally, it can be incredibly helpful for the provider to engage in continuous communication with other supports in the child's life (teachers, psychiatrists, primary care providers, etc.) to determine if the child is meeting their emotional and behavioral goals in different environments throughout treatment. In child therapy, there are many moments of meaningful progress, as children are constantly reaching new milestones of understanding, reflection, and feeling.

What can clients do in their personal time to supplement child therapy?

Clients in child therapy are able to supplement their time outside of sessions with parent/guardian supported activities, parent sessions and trainings, peer support groups, therapeutic camps, and more! Oftentimes, allowing for systemic and family dynamic work to take place in the child's environments outside of therapy sessions is a wonderful way to support the child's success in sessions. Child therapy, although primarily oriented around the child, can also heavily involve key players in their life such as parents/guardians and siblings. This allows for several opportunities outside of sessions for families to practice integrating key tools and concepts into their lives that best meet the needs of all members of the family, not just the child in therapy.

What should someone do to prepare for starting child therapy?

To prepare your child and your family, for the first session of child therapy, it can be incredibly helpful to disclose to your child why they are being brought into therapy, prior to the day of the session. Not sharing a “why” with the child can lead to the child experiencing elevated emotions of fear or anger related to their lack of control while walking into a new environment where they are encouraged to share all parts of their life with a complete stranger. This can be a very shocking situation to encounter without an advanced notice or an explanation of what therapy can be used for. Additionally, during the first session, many providers will welcome the child and their parents/guardians into the session together prior to meeting with the child independently. This can be a wonderful way to set a strong foundation for the client and provider, as well as the family and the provider.

Starting Child therapy

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 Dallas.

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 Dallas, GA 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 Dallas, GA 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.

Pricing & insurance

Our therapists accept most major insurances. We accept 585+ insurance plans, and offer self-pay options, too.
Learn more about pricing for therapy and counseling services at Thriveworks.

Our Dallas therapists and counselors accept 24 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia | BCBS - HMO

  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia | BCBS - PPO

  • Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia | Medicare Advantage

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

  • First Health Network

  • Humana Exchange

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Self-pay costs at Dallas
Talk therapy

Talk therapy

Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Talk therapy

Psychiatry

Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management

First session

$1

Ongoing sessions

$1

Hear from our clients

5.0 Thriveworks Dallas reviews are collected through Thriveworks.com.
★★★★★
I have known Lisa Bradley for many years. She is easy to talk to, very compassionate, listens well and without judgement. I highly recommend her as a therapist.
Read more I have known Lisa Bradley for many years. She is easy to talk to, very compassionate, listens well and without judgement. I highly recommend her as a therapist.
Dallas Jul 2021
Review left on Thriveworks.com
★★★★★
Amy took the time to listen and really give me her honest advice and feedback. I see her for my anxiety and depression and she has given me so many coping techniques and works through my though process to pin point what my triggers are. I definitely recommend her services and am so appreciative of the progress we have made.
Read more Amy took the time to listen and really give me her honest advice and feedback. I see her for my anxiety and depression and she has given me so many coping techniques and works through my though process to pin point what my triggers are. I definitely recommend her services and am so appreciative of the progress we have made.
Dallas Dec 2020
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Dallas is located off of Charles Hardy Parkway. Before you reach our office, you’ll pass Petiquette Academy – and if you were to drive past our office, you would reach Family Smiles Dental.

Phone number

(678) 679-1082

Languages spoken by GA providers

  • English
Wednesday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Thursday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Friday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Saturday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Monday 8:00am - 9:00pm
Tuesday 8:00am - 9:00pm

Shown in ET

Wednesday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Thursday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Friday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Saturday 7:00am - 6:00pm
Sunday 8:00am - 5:00pm
Monday 7:00am - 9:30pm
Tuesday 7:00am - 9:30pm

Shown in ET

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