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 Framingham.
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 Framingham, MA have the expertise and experience to help kids at their level.
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.
When we think back on our childhood, many of us think about the good. We remember how fun and care-free it was to be a kid—and we probably even wish that we could return to that period of our life. But with further thought, we would remember that being a kid isn’t always easy. In fact, a big piece of childhood as well as adolescence is difficult. Remember all of the confusing, unsettling changes that come with this stage of development? The physical changes, the emotional changes, and even the social changes.
“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy,
not on fighting the old, but on building the new.” –Socrates
Often, kids and teens need help navigating all of these changes. Fortunately, there are therapists and counselors out there who specialize in child therapy, who know how to best help children and teens. Whether their young clients are feeling self-conscious as they grow another year older, are struggling to cope with the separation of their parents, or are suffering from depression, anxiety, or another mental illness. Whatever the case may be, a child therapist at Thriveworks Counseling in Framingham is happy to step in and help. So, if you think that your kid or teen could find value in meeting with a mental health professional, reach out to Thriveworks Framingham. Call (508) 392-4269 to schedule an appointment.
Should My Child Work with a Therapist?
Sometimes, it’s hard to put ourselves in someone else’s shoes. But in this case, we can try to remember what it was like to be a kid—what it was like to go through our first breakup, make friends at a new school, and have trouble at home. If your child or teen is struggling to cope with an event or to manage their feelings, consider looking into a child therapist. To be more specific, a child therapist can help your child to address the following:
- Low self-esteem
- Life transitions
- Bullying
- Sadness and anger
- Stress
- Relationship issues
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Other mental illnesses
Therapy proves helpful to many kids and teens who are dealing with problems that negatively affect their feelings and/or behaviors, and who aren’t coping well alone. If this sounds like your child, consider meeting with a child therapist at Thriveworks Counseling in Framingham. These professionals have skills and experience that will help your child become happy and healthy again.
Tools and Techniques Used in Child Therapy
As with many other approaches to therapy, child therapy is customized for each client, based on the issue(s) at hand. That said, the primary goal in child therapy is always the same: to help the kid or teen live a happier, healthier life. Still in search of a clearer understanding? Here are a couple examples of how a child therapist can help kids heal:
- Self-esteem and depression: As we touched on previously, our self-esteem is in serious danger during childhood and adolescence. Why? Because of all those developmental changes we talked about, as well as societal pressures to look and act a certain way. Fortunately, a child counselor can work with kids to build their confidence and improve self-esteem. This, in turn, can help to prevent or manage depression as well as anxiety.
- School can make for some significant challenges in childhood and teenhood. For example, many young individuals experience fallouts with their friends and blunders as they begin to experiment with romantic relationships. Additionally, they feel pressured to act a certain way (which we mentioned in example 1) and might even succumb to bullying if they don’t meet these expectations. The good news is a child therapist can step in and help their young clients navigate new relationships and have an overall positive experience in elementary, middle, or high school.
Set Up a Child Therapy Session at Thriveworks Counseling in Framingham
Have you noticed any emotional or behavioral changes in your child or teen? Is your family going through a difficult time, of which is negatively affecting your kid? Whatever the basis of concern, meeting with a child therapist can prove beneficial.
The providers at Thriveworks can offer you unique benefits: in addition to their extensive skills and experience, they offer flexible hours, so as to ensure that you get the help you need as soon as possible. What does this mean exactly? Evening and weekend appointments are available, to accommodate your busy schedule and ensure you can make it to our office without missing work or school.
Are you ready to book an appointment? Call (508) 392-4269. We’re ready when you are.
