Is something wrong with my child?
As parents, this may be a common question that can lead us to wonder if therapy is the appropriate next step. You may be wondering things like:
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What are the issues a therapist can help my child/adolescent with?
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How can speaking to a therapist help benefit my child/adolescent and family?
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How do I know the right time to look for a therapist for my child/adolescent?
At Frontline Counseling Center, it’s our goal to help answer these questions, put you at ease, and aid in ensuring your child/adolescent is left feeling better. We understand that taking the next step to schedule an appointment can bring up feelings of doubt that, as the parent, you’ve been unable to help your child/adolescent manage their emotions. We understand that you don’t want your child/adolescent to be in distress, unhappy, worried, etc.; we often tend to accommodate our child/adolescent to avoid having them feel those challenging emotions. You may notice behavioral changes, frustration, anger, and sadness, all signs that point to the potential need for therapy and a safe space to explore what your child/adolescent might be experiencing. At Frontline Counseling Center, we believe allowing your child/adolescent to have the space to think, talk, and process the challenging emotions that often accompany this time in their life is important.
Common Stressors for Children/Adolescents
It’s no secret that childhood and adolescence can be some of life's most difficult times as we continue to grow. Some of the stressors that children and adolescents face can be issues within the family (divorce, addiction, death), school-related issues (bullying, learning, issues, social issues), or self-image issues (self-esteem, suicide ideation, or self-harm). A child or adolescent experiencing these common stressors can begin to internalize their thoughts, creating feelings of sadness, depression, anger, worry, loneliness, or low self-esteem. Often, this will cause your child/adolescent to display maladaptive behaviors like aggression, self-harm, withdrawal from family/friends, or an eating disorder. Parents/guardians can experience fear that contacting a therapist is a reflection of their inability to tend to their child’s needs properly – this is not true! Seeking help from a professional, a licensed therapist, is another tool in your toolbox that you can use to help your child/adolescent. A therapist is trained to provide a safe space, listen without judgment, and assist your child/adolescent in processing what they're experiencing to develop appropriate coping skills and strategies to lead a healthier life.
How Can Therapy Help Your Child/Adolescent?
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​It’s vital to provide children/adolescents with emotional support, especially when experiencing the common challenges of this period of their lives. One of the most significant barriers children/adolescents face is their developing brain and emotional response. Working with a therapist gives your child/adolescent a safe space in which they learn how to navigate their own emotions. Frontline Counseling Center provides a supportive environment that can assist your child/adolescent in opening up, sharing their experience, and exploring new ways to manage negative emotions and feelings and improve their communication skills. Seeking the professional help of a therapist allows your child/adolescent the power to feel in control – something they love! In our safe space at Frontline Counseling Center, your child/adolescent can share what they want, when, and how they want. Sometimes, therapy can be a simple way of giving a child/adolescent a sense of control, something they yearn for in a world they often feel is so out of their control. We also believe that having a family-based approach is the most supportive and effective way to provide your child/adolescent with the best results. That means including family members in the therapeutic experience and openly communicating with parents when necessary.
How Does Therapy for Your Child/Adolescent Work?​
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You may be wondering how this all works: Do they come in and talk for an hour once a week, once a month? Am I involved? They don’t talk to me, so why would they talk to a therapist?!
In a world of so many things, therapy, in some ways, is no different. There are many different modes of therapy. However, research shows that one of the most effective ways to treat children/adolescents is using Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). CBT allows children/adolescents to identify negative thoughts that can lead to maladaptive behaviors and teaches them to replace those thoughts with new, positive, adaptable ways of thinking as well as new coping skills and strategies that can assist with self-regulation of their emotions.
At Frontline Counseling Center, we use CBT as one of the approaches to treating children/adolescents in addition to family-based modalities like Strategic Family Therapy, Narrative Therapy, and Structural Family Therapy. We will build a trusting relationship with your child/adolescent, you, and your family to ensure that your child/adolescent feels in a supportive environment.
One thing that is safe to say is that all therapeutic interventions have one thing in common: communication. Therapists are trained to see each person’s situation and assist them in learning how to better communicate with themselves, family, friends, and peers during this time of their life. When a child/adolescent learns how to appropriately express their feelings and emotions, manage stress with adaptable coping skills, and learn new strategies to improve their self-image, they are better at owning and controlling their mental health as adults.
Take the First Step Toward Helping Your Child/Adolescent
Providing your child/adolescent with a safe space to share their thoughts and feelings and learn new ways to better manage their behavior and communication will teach them the skills they need to navigate this period of their life and provide them with the necessary coping skills for adulthood.
If you feel your child is struggling or they could benefit from seeing a therapist, schedule a consultation with us at Frontline Counseling Center. We look forward to hearing from you!