Therapy for Children & Teens
You are considering therapy for your child. Inevitably, this can bring up some complicated feelings in a parent, including, perhaps, a sense of self-doubt or frustratation. I would imagine that at least some of the following questions might seem familiar:
Does my child really need therapy?
Is this my fault somehow?
Why should I feel confident that therapy will help?
Might my child feel stigmatized by seeing a therapist?
What if therapy makes things worse?
As a clinician who has worked extensively with children ages 2-18, but also as a parent myself, I am extremely empathetic to any parent’s natural hesitation about considering therapy for their child. As a result, I offer parents an initial (free) consultation to answer any questions you might have and, just as importantly, to provide an opportunity for you to get a sense of what I am like so you can evaluate if I seem like the best fit for your child.
What does therapy with children look like anyway?
It depends upon the child’s age, maturity level, and interests. For younger children, I am likely to prioritize the healing properties of art and play, engaging the child in ‘conversation’ through creativity and imagination. For older children, sessions will more closely resemble ‘adult’ talk therapy. It all depends upon the child and what is the most effective way to encourage their openness and engagement.
What issues can you help with?
I have experience working with children from toddlers to teens around a wide range of issues, including: neurodiversity, behavioral dysregulation and impulsivity, family conflict, exploration of gender and/or sexuality, school anxiety, and social engagement. I have helped kids become more comfortable at school and at home and, in general, have guided them along their path to discover their most authentic self (and to learn how to carry that authentic self through the world). When my younger clients leave therapy, they are generally more self-confident, thoughtful to others, introspective, and (perhaps most of all) have a powerful sense of their intrinsic uniqueness and goodness.
I am interested, but I think my child might refuse to participate.
It is my job to connect with each younger client as quickly as possible and to instill a sense of optimism that our work together will be unthreatening, useful, and fun. (Yes, fun.) One of the most gratifying responses I regularly hear from my younger clients is some version of: ‘I thought I would hate this, but I really like coming here…’ That said, do some kids reject treatment? Some do, but the overwhelming majority are surprised to discover that they actually enjoy the experience.
What is the parents’ role when their children are in therapy?
Again, this will depend upon the unique nature of your child’s situation, but minimally, I will want to schedule regular parent consultations to get a sense of how your child is doing and, frankly, how effectively different aspects of the therapy are working. If the situation warrants it, I may occasionally recommend that some sessions include other members of the family, although my work is far more commonly one-on-one with the client.