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One of the most important aspects of working therapeutically with children and adolescents is giving them the space and security to know that what they tell me will be met with unconditional positive regard and be kept in confidence. Of course, there are exceptions to this pertaining to their safety, which are laid out in the first session. But building trust is vital to communicating with children in a way that maybe they don't feel they can with other adults. This doesn't mean that a therapist will let them off the hook, not express a need to have parents or guardians join a session, or deeply explore why a child is uncomfortable with having these discussions with their parents, because that is also important! Learning communication skills and the confidence to use them is almost always part of the plan, as those elements can have positive benefits throughout their lives.
Teaching kids how to identify their feelings is a vital step in therapy. After all, how can people process and heal from an experience if they can't name it? Without understanding how thoughts, feelings, and behaviors combine, we lose our sense of connection with those around us. Language is the start of understanding, and being able to identify and name what they are experiencing is the start of giving children the tools to communicate about it.
Often, progress can be seen in how kids engage with aspects of the process of therapy, such as homework. The hard fact of therapy is that just talking to someone each week is only one part of the work-what you do outside of that session is often far more important. The homework after each session may be about reflecting on a topic, but might also be about creating a list of interests or times in the past when we made good choices or taking on a physical exercise designed to reduce anxiety several times a day. If the client completes these tasks outside of the session, they often come in next time with an interest in sharing what they learned, even if it’s to tell the therapist that it was too hard or didn’t work for them. That interest then spreads and positively impacts their engagement with therapy overall.
I always encourage my clients to use their creativity and engage with a hobby-whether that means playing an instrument, painting or drawing, playing sports, writing, or almost anything else! Research has shown that there is an effort-driven reward cycle that can improve many aspects of daily life, such as a sense of control, connectedness, contentment, and satisfaction, as well as a reduction in stress and anxiety and a greater resilience to depression. Additionally, there are frequently aspects of these enjoyed activities that can be harnessed to improve other areas of life. For example, if someone likes to doodle, it can help to harness that creative energy by having them create their own planner to better keep homework organized, therefore reducing stress!
Try to have a frank discussion about what your child's expectations, hopes, and concerns are for therapy. Most people have some anxiety for the first couple of sessions, especially if they have never spoken with a therapist before-this is perfectly normal. However, starting a dialog about why a therapist is being sought and what the desired outcome is can go a long way to easing those fears. Additionally, I would let them know that, if they don’t feel comfortable with the first therapist, or even the second or third, you will keep trying to find someone. One of the biggest predictors of a positive outcome from therapy is how comfortable the client is speaking to the clinician. We don’t want the therapist to just be another adult the child interacts with, but someone they trust to hold space for them and help them navigate the often overwhelming and confusing aspects of their social experiences.
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 West Palm Beach.
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 West Palm Beach, 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 West Palm Beach, 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.
As a parent, you are your child’s protector. You do everything you can to keep them safe, happy, and healthy. But deep down, you know that you cannot protect your child from every bad thing out there. The hard truth is that we all encounter challenges in childhood. As we grow up, we struggle to build and maintain friendships; we get bullied; we suffer as a result of our parents’ divorce; we fight with our siblings; we experience heartbreak; and we get knocked down a time or two, physical or mentally.
The good news is that though we can’t protect our children from ever experiencing heartbreak or hardship, we can help them confront the challenges they face and come out on the other side stronger than ever. You can accomplish this by setting your child up with a child therapist. If you are in the Palm Beach area, consider setting your child or teen up with a child therapist at Thriveworks Counseling in West Palm Beach, FL. Just call (561) 536-5293 to schedule your appointment.
Child therapy is form of psychotherapy that is designed to help kids, adolescents, and teens successfully work through challenges, including mental illnesses and responding to bullying. The child therapists at Thriveworks Counseling in West Palm Beach, FL are well-equipped to work with children and teens as they know how these young brains work. Their knowledge and skills inform their work in therapy, as they break down issues in a way that their young clients will understand better.
There is no age limit in child counseling. All ages are welcome, from toddlers who haven’t yet entered grade school to teenagers going into high school. Regardless of the child’s age, their therapist will do their best to help them understand their emotions and get back on a healthy path. Child therapy serves as an intervention that prevents children from experiencing negative developmental and mental effects, as a result of the problems they endure.
It can be difficult for us, as parents, to accept that our kids might be struggling—especially when they’re at a young age. But don’t worry: Therapy can serve as that guiding light. As we mentioned above, child therapists have specific knowledge, skills, and tools related to helping kids grow well. Now, many different children, adolescents, and teens can benefit from child therapy. That said, there are common issues that bring children into child therapy, including:
You have not failed your child. You are showing just how much you love, care for, and support them, by setting them up with a skilled child therapist. Thriveworks child therapy will help your child or teen work through their present issues, preserve their mental and emotional health, and overall live better.
To schedule a child therapy appointment at Thriveworks Counseling in West Palm Beach, FL call (561) 536-5293. We’ll be here.
Includes individual, couples, child/ teen, & family therapy
Includes reducing symptoms with medication & management
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 | |
Wednesday | 8:00am - 9:00pm |
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Thursday | 8:00am - 9:30pm | |
Friday | 1:00am - 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 |
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