Our counselors provide therapy for children and teens in Columbia, SC

My go-to approach for child therapy depends on the children's needs, but is mainly based in a combination of CBT and play therapy. Children learn and build an understanding of the world around them through how they interact with the world. By incorporating social/emotional skills into games, worksheets, art, and other mediums, children are able to build skills they did not have before.

My go-to approach for child therapy depends on the teenagers' needs. The most important process is to build trust. Some teenagers can be nervous and not trust their parents because they fear their parents will discover things that will cause them trouble. I discussed informed consent and the boundaries of confidentiality with both the parent and the teenager. By incorporating social/emotional skills into games, worksheets, art, and other mediums, teenagers can build skills they did not have before.

The tools I teach in child-centered therapy are social/emotional regulation skills, problem-solving, parent/child interaction improvement, self-esteem, and trauma processing.

I teach the following tools in individual therapy:

• Distress tolerance skills: The client learns to manage distress healthily.
• Stress management skills: Learn strategies to manage life challenges and everyday stress.
• Mindfulness: Learn to stay in the present moment without judgment when situations seem difficult or out of an individual's control.
• Emotion regulation skills: Learn to process and express emotions healthily.
• Interpersonal effectiveness skills: Learn skills to help maintain healthy relationships.
• Behavioral activation: Treatment for depression to address lack of motivation and feelings of hopelessness, which are common symptoms of depression.
• Relaxation techniques: Address anxiety by learning breathing techniques and other mindfulness skills.

I know a client is making meaningful progress in child therapy when we begin to see small changes in their abilities to regulate their moods, process social/emotional situations, follow directions on a developmentally appropriate level, and increase caregiver-positive interactions with the child.

I know a teen is making meaningful progress in individual therapy when they can successfully navigate challenges independently with the tools provided in individual therapy. The client starts to recognize and address barriers that keep them in the cycle of their overwhelming symptoms. The teen is also willing to share their concerns with parents that they may not have been able to before treatment.

What clients can do at home to supplement child therapy relies on the caregivers. Caregivers need to spend intentional time with the child away from screens to increase social/emotional connections. Caregivers must adhere to proper consequences for negative behaviors for both them and the child. Caregivers must also put in the work to ensure they are also learning, alongside their child, different ways to handle emotions and situations and connect. Child therapy is not just about the child. The entire family unit needs to be involved to create meaningful change.

Clients can supplement their time in therapy by building a routine of activities learned in individual therapy. I encourage clients to make a healthy support system for accountability in mental health maintenance.

To prepare for starting child therapy, caregivers should be prepared to examine how their actions may influence how children behave and examine how they can create positive change. The family should be ready to examine how they function as a whole and what positive changes they can make with the resources they have. They should let the child know therapy is like a doctor for your brain and they help us build skills we need. Support is the biggest factor. Therapy should never be a punishment or a threat. It should be a place of open communication and growth.

To prepare for your first therapy session, write down your thoughts and concerns before your session so that all concerns can be discussed in the intake session. Parents are an essential part of the therapeutic process and should be prepared to be a part of any homework or exercises given to the teen. The parents should be ready to examine how they function as a whole and what positive changes they can make with the resources they have.