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Discover how starting child therapy can support your own journey toward a happier, more fulfilling life.
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My go-to approach for helping kids in child therapy was to see the world and their experiences through their eyes as much as I possibly could. From there, I used a developmentally appropriate cognitive behavior therapy approaches, helping children learn skills for appropriately expressing their needs and getting their needs met. My therapeutic approach also involved keeping parent(s) in the loop on what skills were being developed so they can coach their child between appointments.
Children learn by modeling and by doing. Skills taught in therapy include the same cognitive behavioral therapy skills taught in adult therapy - but from a developmentally appropriate perspective. Children are taught:
I know a child is making meaningful progress in child therapy based on the child's self-report of improvement, parental report of improvement at home, reports on satisfactory or better academic performance, and improved assessment scores as indicated.
Children can supplement their time in child therapy by practicing skills learned in therapy. In all likelihood, this will not occur without parental encouragement. Parents can actively practice and model skills for their child as one way to extend the therapeutic benefits of the session.
To prepare for their first child therapy session, a child can learn what to expect in therapy. Parents can check the local library for age appropriate books to help children adapt to the therapeutic experience. It is important for parents to normalize the counseling experience so their child is more likely to have a positive initial experience. Often children feel protective of their parents and are anxious talking about what is going on at home that may be causing them stress. In this case, parents can give their child permission to talk about their feelings, even their feelings about their parents, home, school, and friends. Parents also need to respect their child's confidentiality and not ask them what they talked about in therapy. Trust that the therapist will discuss with you any safety concerns. When I work with children, I support the authority of the parental role and work to improve the parent-child relationship as much as I can.
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 Gainesville.
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 Gainesville, FL have the expertise and experience to help kids at their level.
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.
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.
Cognitive behavioral therapy at Thriveworks in Gainesville, FL 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.
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.
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.
At Thriveworks, we accept most major insurance plans, allowing many clients to pay as little as $0–$50 per session with their co-pay. We also offer self-pay options for those out-of-network or without insurance. Self-pay rates for talk therapy range from $160 to $240 for intake sessions and $135 to $195 for follow-ups, depending on your state. For psychiatry services, self-pay intake sessions are $255–$375, with follow-ups ranging from $175–$300, also varying by state. More information on current self-pay costs is available on our pricing page.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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 | |
Wednesday | 8:00am - 9:00pm | |
Thursday | 8:00am - 9:00pm |
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Friday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Saturday | 8:00am - 6:00pm | |
Sunday | 8:00am - 6:00pm | |
Monday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Tuesday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Wednesday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Thursday | 8:00am - 9:30pm |
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