Therapy For Kids

Has Parenting Begun To Feel Impossible Lately?

Is your child struggling to use their words? Are they having trouble staying calm and regulating their emotions? Do you wish you knew how to help them, but they won’t tell you what’s wrong?

Maybe your child is yelling and hitting and suffering from emotional outbursts. Or perhaps their problem is just the opposite—they go into states of emotional shutdown whenever something goes wrong. They might be struggling to make friends, falling behind in school, or wrestling with questions about their gender. As much as you want to help, maybe you feel like you’ve tried all there is. Nothing seems to work. For the first time, perhaps you find yourself considering a child therapist.

If this is the case, we encourage you to connect with us. Here at Park Slope Therapy, we specialize in helping children manage their emotions, learn new social skills, and improve their self-confidence. In the meantime, we want to help you be their biggest cheerleader and give you strategies for supporting them in day-to-day life.

Between School, Sports, And Social Media, Kids These Days Face A Ton Of Stress

Childhood is no cakewalk. Kids these days have a lot on their plates. In our area of New York City, there is a ton of pressure on kids to do well in school, be good at sports, have lots of friends, and successfully enter the next phase of life.

It’s no wonder so many children suffer from anxiety and depression. Many of them feel like they’re not good enough when they can’t keep up with all the crazy expectations. Social media just adds fuel to the fire, putting extra pressure on kids to be relevant, look beautiful, and have lots of followers.

Parents Are Under A Lot Of Pressure, Too

Kids aren’t the only ones with a lot on their plates. Many parents are held to incredibly high standards—they’re expected to raise the perfect kids on top of being a perfect homemaker and perfect spouse. To a lot of parents, the thought of sending their children to therapy is an admission of failure. As a result, they are often reluctant to reach out for help when they need it most.

Therapy is not an admission of failure, but a sign that you are committed to creating the best possible future for your child. Kids who go to therapy at a young age have an advantage over their peers. They can hone their emotional intelligence early on and be more prepared for the challenges of adolescence and adulthood.

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Therapy Can Give Children A Backpack Of Skills To Use Whenever They’re Stressed

Self-awareness is the key to healing. Here at Park Slope Therapy, our goal is to help your child become aware of what’s behind their anger, anxiety, and frustration. This is a chance for them to get to know their emotions better and learn to put a name to their feelings. Doing so can help them use words and advocate for themselves instead of withdrawing or having meltdowns. We will give them a backpack of skills that they can use at any time.

Additionally, we want to give you parenting support so that it’s easier to help your child when they’re having a hard time. We believe you know your child better than anyone and we want you to play an integral role in the healing process.

What To Expect In Sessions

During the intake session, we will meet with you to discuss your child’s struggles and understand your perspective. Afterwards, we’ll meet with your child individually and then meet with the two of you together. When that’s done, your child’s therapist will come up with a treatment plan based on the needs of everyone involved.

The treatment plan can be a combination of individual, parenting, and family therapy. It’s all about what works best for you and your child. Although sessions with your child will be confidential, we will still check in with you a lot to learn about how your child is doing and how your parenting strategies are working.

Creating Your Child’s Counseling Plan

What we work on with your child depends on what their needs are. Above all, we want to help them build on their strengths to create a toolbox of coping skills that they can use at all times. We’ll help them learn to communicate better, manage their time more effectively, and develop calming skills so that they can avoid tantrums and outbursts.

We use a lot of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) with children. CBT can help your child understand the connection between their thoughts, emotions, and behavior. By changing the way they think, they can improve their mood and make positive behaviors a habit in their life.

Parenting these days is hard. We believe that you need all the help you can get and that’s why we want to equip you and your child with a backpack of skills that both of you can use long after therapy is done.

You May Have Some Questions About Therapy For Children…

Will acknowledging that my child needs support affect their self-esteem?

Recognizing that your child needs help is an integral part of parenting. It shows you love them deeply and want the best for them. What’s more, therapy can help them improve their self-esteem by giving them a set of tools for increasing their chances of success. This way, they’ll have strategies that they can use when they feel their confidence slipping.

How often do parents get to meet with the therapist?

In many ways, counseling for children is also counseling for parents. During the first session, you’ll meet with the therapist to determine if they’re a good fit for your child and family. Throughout the course of therapy, we’ll continue to collaborate with you so that you’re always in the loop regarding treatment. You’re also welcome to have parenting sessions from time to time if necessary.

Will my child always need to see a counselor?

No, they won’t. Counseling with kids and families is often short-term. Your child’s therapist will work with you and your family to determine the length and frequency of counseling. The children we see typically “graduate” therapy once they’ve mastered the skills they learn here.

Parenting Is Tough. You Deserve All The Support You Can Get.

We know how hard it is to raise a child nowadays and that’s why we’re here to help out. To connect with one of our child counselors, you can fill out the contact form, email us, or call 929-297-9753.

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