Children, Adolescents, & Therapy Through Play
Effective Interventions for Children 5+
As a Parent, Few Things Are Worse Than Seeing Your Child Struggle...
As a parent, you do everything that you can to try and help your child to be successful socially, emotionally, physically, and academically. When they struggle, you struggle. Your pain is their pain.
You want to help them. You have tried to help them. But things don't seem to be improving and may even be getting worse. You hope for the best but this is something that makes you worry a lot.
As a parent that has to raise a child in an environment where children have access to technology at a rate that has never been seen before, it is difficult to even know where to start or what to do. You may feel like you are losing your child on some level. Or, your child may start acting out as the result of what is going on in his or her life. Some common issues that children go through include:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Self-Harming Behaviors
- Bullying
- Performance Anxiety
- Falling Grades
- Behavioral Issues
- Disrespect
The world that children live in today is vastly different than in other generations. The rapid evolution of technology exposes and gives access to information, that often times as parents, we don't understand. Because of this, you worry. You worry that you are in the best position to help your child, and sometimes you may feel like you just aren't able to help.
Therapy Can Help You Help Your Child...
Many parents have stated that sending their child to therapy was one of the best decisions that they made as a parent. As one mother put it, "It helped bring my child back to me."
Therapy is effective and safe way for your child to:
- Learn to manage complex emotions such as anxiety and depression.
- Learn better ways of communicating his or her needs to you and other caring adults.
- Improve behavioral issues that impact the family unit.
- Learn the skills to advocate for themselves and what they need whenever you aren't there.
- Give parents the piece of mind that allows them to know that they have equipped their child with the best possible tools to succeed when faced with challenges.
- Help children learn appropriate decision making skills.
- Learn better social skills
Therapy for Adolescents (13+)
Reality Check: Your Kids Are Smarter Than You
Every generation of parents has faced new challenges with raising teenagers. From decade to decade, things change dramatically.
Arguably, the parents of this generation of teenagers are facing even greater challenges than their parents. Why? Because Teens have access to information and are able to receive gratification almost instantly.
Although the benefits of evolving technology is without question, the issues caused by things such as the Internet, Smart Phones, and Social Media have caused considerable difficulty in families. Unfortunately, there is no "How To" Guide for parents facing these issues.
This is where counseling can help. If your child is facing issues such as:
- Cyberbullying
- Bullying
- Difficulty with making friends
- Internet/Gaming Addiction
- Behavioral Issues
- Risk-Taking Behaviors
Then it is time to seek professional help. Counseling can help you and your teen navigate some very challenging developmental roads in the wake of the ever evolving technology.
Therapy Through Play
Children often have difficulty with expressing their emotions because they don't yet have the language to make it clear what they are thinking and feeling. This can be challenging for children that have been through trauma or that are experiencing strong emotions. Adults desperately want to help, but find themselves playing a guessing game of what they can do to help their child heal and communicate.
Play therapy incorporates the child's unique developmental level and incorporates play as a child's primary language and mode of communication. Children are able to express themselves through Play better than through verbal communication.
As a clinician, I use play as a means to help clients, ages five (5) to ten (10) express themselves and learn how to resolve problems. The information gathered in sessions through play also enables me to help parents and caretakers understand the unique needs of their child. Once understood, things can be adpated or put into place to help the child to be more successful in a variety of environments.
Play therapy has been successful in helping children with issues such as:
- Trauma
- Social Skill Deficits
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Learning Difficulties
- Behavioral Problems
- ADHD
- Autism
**Play Therapy services are only available in the Savannah, GA Office
I Don't Judge... Because.... I am Just Like You
As therapist, I know that the most important indicator of a child's success (regardless of the age) is parental involvement and collaboration. Parents are involved every step of the way in the therapeutic process.
One of the bravest things that anyone can to (at any age) is to ask for help. Odds are, if you came to this page, you believe that your child or children may need some help. It is OK. You won't be judged.
As a Mom, I can absolutely understand and appreciate that your struggle with your child has an impact on every aspect of the life of you, your child, and your family. It isn't east. I have three boys, ages 14, 7, and 2. There are days where I want to pull my hair out, just like you. No one is above that. If they tell you they are, they are lying.