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9,797 people sought child therapy help in Pennsylvania 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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Deborah Eshelman

Hear from Deborah Eshelman, Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC)

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What is your go-to approach for child therapy?

My go-to approach for helping kids in child therapy is client-centered. Use play therapy for younger children, and activity therapy for older kids who are not ready to just talk. Through this approach, my goal is to meet the child/adolescent where they are and facilitate a warm, accepting environment for them.

What tools do you teach in child therapy?

I teach the following tools in child therapy:

  • Zones of regulation, which help children identify, through the use of color zones, what their feelings are and what “color zone” they are in.
  • Anger-management tools.
  • Breathing techniques for self-calming the mind and body.
  • Somatic techniques for calming the body.
  • Grounding techniques.
  • Psychoeducation on the autonomic nervous system, including information about the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems and how our bodies are connected to our trauma, anxiety, etc.
  • Parenting skills education, as parents are a critical part of a child's treatment.
  • Exposure therapy for specific phobias.

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

I know when a child is making progress through my own observations of the client's presentation, regular self-reports (older children/adolescents), and parent reports.

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

Clients can supplement their time in child therapy by practicing, outside of the session, the tools that are introduced in sessions so that these tools are more readily accessed when they actually need to use the tools to self-calm.

What should someone do to prepare for starting child therapy?

To prepare their child for their first therapy session, a parent can explain that therapy is a place where children can talk or express their thoughts, feelings, and needs in a safe environment through the use of specific toys, people/animal figures, drawing/painting, and games. At the first session, the clinician will want to learn about the child and will be asking the child and their parent(s) specific questions about the child's early life, family, school, things they like to do, and what is going on now.

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 Media.

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 Media, PA 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 Media, PA 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 Media therapists and counselors accept 42 insurance plans

  • Aetna

  • Ambetter from Pennsylvania Health and Wellness

  • AmeriHealth Administrators

  • AmeriHealth Medicare Advantage

  • AmeriHealth Pennsylvania

  • Blue Cross Blue Shield | Anthem (Blue Card)

  • Capital BlueCross of Pennsylvania | BCBS Medicare Advantage

  • Carelon

  • Cigna | Evernorth

  • Cigna | Evernorth EAP

  • Cigna | Evernorth Medicare Advantage

  • Compsych

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Self-pay costs at Media
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

Thriveworks Media has no reviews yet, but check out these reviews from locations in Pennsylvania.

4.5 Thriveworks Media reviews are collected through Thriveworks.com.
★★★★★
Thriveworks helped me realize that I do believe people can change. I’m not the person I was three months ago, broken and fearful. I’m healthy and happy and for the first time being kind to myself. Thank you for giving me my life back.
Read more Thriveworks helped me realize that I do believe people can change. I’m not the person I was three months ago, broken and fearful. I’m healthy and happy and for the first time being kind to myself. Thank you for giving me my life back.
Anonymous Thriveworks Client
Review left on Thriveworks.com

Where to find us

Getting here

Thriveworks Counseling & Psychiatry Media is located off of N Jackson St, and our building is in the center of Cooper St., W 6th St., W 7th St., and N Jackson St.

Phone number

(610) 557-1991

Languages spoken by PA providers

  • English
  • Japanese
  • Korean
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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