Child Counseling in Santa Rosa
As a parent you probably worry about your kids on a regular basis. You might also wonder if your son or daughter needs counseling.
That is 100% normal.
This can be a tough decision to make.
Perhaps a teacher, pediatrician, or friend suggested you should find a child therapist. Or maybe you noticed that your child has changed and is struggling in ways they didn’t use to.
Children who have clearly experienced a traumatic event or lost a loved one can definitely benefit from counseling. All families encounter life transitions and changes that are tough to adjust to, which can be especially hard for younger children.
Child counseling can be effective for a wide range of concerns:
Life Transitions (recent move, divorce/separation, change of school)
Death of a Loved One
Addiction in the Family
Mental Health or Developmental Concerns
Emotional, Physical and/or Sexual Abuse
Experiencing or Witnessing a Traumatic Event
Family Conflict
Child counseling can be helpful whether your child is navigating an expected developmental milestone or surviving a serious life event.
A strengths-based approach to help kids progress and heal.
The counseling focuses on your child’s inherit strengths and resilience.
Even though child counseling is meant to be supportive and positive, many parents wonder how to bring up the idea of counseling.
Many young children might think going to see a therapist is like going to see a doctor, which could be an unpleasant experience. There are some things you can do to prepare your child for counseling.
How to prepare your child for counseling:
Explain what a therapist is – “A therapist is a person who talks with kids; their office is a safe place to share your thoughts and feelings.”
Make counseling seem normal – “Many kids talk with a therapist to express their feelings.”
Let them know it’s not their fault – “What happened in our family is not your fault.”
Choose the right timing – Find a calm moment to share with them that they will be talking with a therapist
Keep it simple – “You can share your feelings and the story of what happened with the therapist and he/she will answer any questions you have.”
Finding a therapist your child can trust and be open with is important.
This connection will allow your child to get the most out of their sessions.
However, no matter how much your child likes their therapist, change will take time and patience is important as new skills and habits are learned.
The amount of time your child spends in counseling from the first session to the last session depends on your child, their situation, and the complexity of their challenges.