Is your child acting out at home or school?
Does your child appear to have excessive fears or worry, or struggle with confidence?
Is your child experiencing a drop in grades or trouble concentrating in school?
Is there conflict at home?
Treatment for children can be needed for a lot of reasons. For example, a child might benefit from therapy if a child is struggling with getting along with their classmates or siblings, has difficulties calming down or dealing with their emotions, has experienced trauma, is having a hard time listening/respecting adults, or having a hard time adjusting to some life changes.
Child therapy can have a different look compared to treatment with adults. With some children, to help them process their feelings, we play! Play therapy can be helpful since children might not understand complex situations and emotions like an adult can. Keep in mind that this is not the same type of play parents do at home with their kids. Although, that might be helpful too!
What is Play Therapy for Children?
Play therapy is a technique used in child therapy that can help in so many ways:
- Learn communication skills
- Improve recognizing emotions
- Change behaviors
- Respect boundaries
- Build Confidence
- Improve problem-solving abilities
- How to play with others in a healthy way
- Learn how to deal with conflict, to name a few
Play therapy allows the child to learn in a way they can relate to and understand. Imagine a child in elementary school sitting in a classroom and listening to a lecture on advanced chemistry or calculus. Most of us can literally see the words going in one ear and out the other. Children are not known for their analytical thought. After all, they typically are not advanced in this area because their brains are not fully developed. Play allows children to learn without knowing they are learning. They can learn by watching!
Psychoeducation for Children:
Psychoeducation is just a fancy word for educating people about psychology and how the mind works. Remember that education looks different depending on a child’s age and developmental range. Sometimes, the education piece can be worked into play therapy with a board game or imaginary play. But sometimes, we need something more directive that can aim at a specific behavior.
One example we see a lot is how to help children get along with siblings or their friends at school. This psychoeducation would aim to help the child focus on what they can control. We can even make an action plan so that the child knows their options before getting upset.
Another time psychoeducation is helpful is recognizing how an emotion feels or how emotions can look different in others. We have specific games that we play that are educational for a particular issue. Some psychoeducational games would be board games, dancing, and (depending on the child’s liking) interactive worksheets.
The Needs of Your Child:
Each child is different in their own beautiful way. With that being said, their treatment will reflect their individual needs. Some children might need more behavioral therapy or cognitive behavioral therapy (meaning how our thoughts impact our emotions which influence our actions). We want to ensure we utilize treatments to help your child specifically.
Other specific types of treatments could include:
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
- Applied Behavioral Therapy
- Relaxation Techniques
- Mindfulness Training
- Motivational Interviewing, to name a few
At the Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we work with you and your child to find the best suitable treatment. Depending on the needs of the child, the parent can even be involved in the therapy.
Family Therapy:
Most families are unique and function in their own way. Some are healthy, and some are not. How adults deal with issues can impact how children deal with problems. For example, if there is tension within the adults of the home, the child can see and feel the same way. The children see how the adults address conflict and tend to copy that same behavior.
Family therapy can help address how the adults demonstrate to the child how to handle conflict. For instance, if the adults remain calm and talk about their differences, the child might use those same strategies when in conflict with a friend at school. Remember, therapists, understand that this can be easier said than done. Therapy can address how to argue in a healthy way so that children see how to “fight fair” too.
Begin Child Therapy at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch!
If you are ready to help your child with their emotions, we can help. Our therapists are available to begin treatment and help your child. To begin counseling in the Houston, TX area, please follow these steps:
- Contact our office to set up an appointment or to get more information about child therapy.
- Meet with one of our loving therapists.
- Begin counseling and find peace and healing!
Other Services Offered at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch:
Our behavioral health clinic in Katy, TX offers a variety of mental health services to clients of all ages. Ultimately, our goal is to help you stand strong in your life. Our therapy services include individual counseling, therapy for anxiety, counseling for depression, family therapy, child therapy, counseling for young adults, teen therapy, trauma treatment, counseling for couples, women, men, and group counseling. Contact our therapy office to learn more about the many ways we can help you live your life to the fullest.