Therapy for Children and Adolescents

As they move through the early developmental stages of life, children and adolescents are faced with new challenges and intimidating hurdles. Parents are often not equipped to deal with all of these issues on their own. My goal is to provide a safe and professional space where children and adolescents can feel free to talk and express themselves without being told they are wrong. I truly love working with kids because they are often so good about being open and honest. By the two or three month mark, I have usually processed all of their issues, and I know exactly how to work with them on managing their emotions and maintaining their mental health.

Therapy can help children and adolescents with:

• Controlling impulses and regulating their emotions
• Effectively communicating their wants and needs
• Dissuading self-harming behaviors
• Respecting themselves and others

I work with children and adolescents from ages 5 through 18 from a broad range of backgrounds and circumstances. One of my great passions is working with adolescents from underprivileged and low socioeconomic statuses because I can confidently say that I am able to make a discernible difference in helping them to understand themselves and reconnect with their parents.

Working With Children and Adolescents

Especially when dealing with teenagers, I try to find a way to meet them in their world. Most of the time, all that really entails is a high degree of honesty and bluntness that builds trust and rapport. For instance, I often implement a lot of humor and sarcasm with self-harmers because it helps alleviate some pressure and discomfort when talking about such a sensitive topic.

No matter the severity of their issues, I seek to validate what they are going through before approaching how or why they might need to change it. Typically, I try to strike a balance between showing them that I will not shy away from anything they throw at me while also being gentle and allowing them the space to share things that are difficult to talk about. When it comes to children and adolescents, the most important thing is that they feel like I can understand them.

Therapy Strategies

My primary modalities are currently Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT). DBT is a bit of an enhanced version of CBT, and both are instrumental in helping people learn to identify and change destructive behavior or negative thinking patterns. CBT and DBT are powerful tools for addressing problems with emotional regulation and developing effective coping mechanisms.

Before COVID, I also utilized play therapy, such as sand tray work. Play therapy is especially useful when discussing potentially traumatic topics with children. Sand tray therapy helps reduce the psychological distress they may experience while delving into delicate issues. Moreover, it stimulates emotional expression and reflection.

I also employ clay work when working with both kids and adults. Clay is a fantastic sensory item that requires the use of muscles and fine motor skills to express oneself. Clay work is particularly useful for treating grief and trauma. It allows kids to recreate their world, effectively facing their emotions or trauma and taking it on. When experiencing fear or anxiety, clay work can help adolescents gain a sense of control and clarity. Clay therapy can also be handy with remote clients who request a mini therapy box.

Mindfulness is one of those up-and-coming therapy trends that is more than just a fad because it really works.

Mindfulness can help with mental health maintenance and regulation, including:

• Anxiety
• Trauma
• Triggers
• Emotional regulation

There are many mindfulness applications, and I try to implement some techniques and exercises whenever my clients are willing.

Identifying if Your Child Needs Therapy

A lot of parents initially come to me because someone else told them that their child needs therapy. However, an attentive parent can often know for themselves if their child could benefit from professional help. The most reliable tell-tale sign that your child is experiencing distress or potential trauma is a sudden or drastic change in mood or behavior. Depending on the child, the “red flags” may appear very different. For instance, one child may suddenly become quiet while another starts having uncontrollable outbursts. As their parent, you are privy to the family dynamics and what is considered “normal.” The question you should ask yourself is: Do they seem like themselves?