Child and Adolescent counseling works to help a child understand who they are by breaking down the child’s problems in a way they can understand. It helps the child or adolescent understand their emotions so they can live healthy lives without fear, depression, anxiety, or confusion.

The counselor will work with the child or teen and parents to define treatment goals and areas for growth. The counselor may then work individually with the child or teen to build a trusting atmosphere where the child or teen feels safe and able to share their problems in a supportive environment. The counselor will work to break down the children’s problems in a way they can understand, while helping parents understand the ways their child thinks and experiences life. The counselor will provide insights and understanding about your child’s development, how emotions can be triggers for fear or trauma, and identify reasons for certain behavioral difficulties. Counselors will provide parents with techniques for building different skills, boundary training, emotional development, and even how to successfully launch teens into the world.

Childhood can be difficult for most children as they reach different phases of development, but a child is resilient and can usually work through these difficulties for themselves. It isn’t until mental health concerns come into the picture that it be harder for a child or adolescent to maneuver through those challenges.

Positive relationships between parents and children are critical for healthy development. When bad situations are left untreated they can lead to educational and developmental issues lasting into adulthood. It is important as a parent or guardian to understand that a child or adolescent might not have the language or understanding within themselves to tell you what they need, so being critical of the child can often exacerbate the problem.

Counseling with children might focus on: relationship issues, performance problems, behavioral problems, healing from a traumatic event, being bullied, facing difficult family situations (loss, divorce, etc.), or having extreme emotional reactions. Also, certain events may impact a child: the birth of a sibling, abuse (physical, emotional, verbal, sexual), domestic violence, poverty or homelessness, moving to a new place, or attending a new school.