Children and Adolescents Therapy or Counseling
Children and teens, or adolescents, build emotional intelligence and social skills as they grow, which often contribute to happy, healthy lives. However, some kids behave in ways or have feelings that disrupt their well-being or social skills.
You can learn how to help your child by seeking information about children’s mental health. There are some necessary skills you should have to effectively interact with your child, which you can learn from seeing a therapist. A counselor or therapist can also benefit your child or teen. Therapy is a safe space for kids to process unruly emotions and thoughts.
Situations That Counseling for Children and Adolescents Can Assist With
Each development stage in a child’s life brings new challenges. Most children work through these challenges as a normal part of growing up. However, mental health conditions can make these situations harder, especially under certain conditions. Events that kids can have a hard time with could be as routine as moving into a new home or as traumatic as bullying.
Each child responds to life’s challenges differently. Some events that may lead to mental health issues are:
- Parental separation or divorce
- Having to take on more responsibility than is age-appropriate
- Being bullied
- Attending a new school or moving into a new home
- Domestic violence
- Natural disaster
- Homelessness or poverty
- Sexual or physical abuse
- The death of a family member, friend, or pet
- The adoption or birth of a new sibling
Gender and age can influence a teen or child’s resilience to major life events. For example, older children have a harder time adjusting to divorce than younger children. Genetics can also play a role as some mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder, can run in families.
Common Situations Where Counseling Adolescents Can Be Necessary
When kids reach adolescence, a number of things can cause them strife. For example, romantic and platonic relationships can cause stress. Having a good relationship with parents is crucial to healthy development, but it can become strained during the teen years. Teens may also worry about romantic relationships which can lead to a lower quality of life from mental health issues.
Stress and social pressures can also cause eating disorders in teens, such as bulimia and anorexia. While in the past it was assumed that eating disorders happened mostly in young women, it is now known that these behaviors occur in people of every gender. Eating disorders can harm self-esteem and physical health through starvation, suicide, heart disease, self-harm, and malnutrition. Be aware of your teen’s eating habits and pay attention to how you talk about weight and food around them. Get them into counseling for adolescents if it becomes apparent that they have an unhealthy relationship with food.
Past abuse and trauma can also lead to substance abuse in adolescents. Teens are known to experiment with alcohol and drugs in order to push boundaries, but it can become an unhealthy pattern with lifelong, harmful effects. It’s important to look for signs of substance abuse to determine whether your teen is developing an addiction. Once you do, you can help them seek treatment. The sooner addiction is discovered, the more effective treatment may be.
Where You Can Find Child and Adolescents Therapy in San Diego
If you believe your child or teen needs help dealing with problems in their life, seek out Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) from a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist (LMFT). Seeking Therapy Counseling Services, serving Chula Vista, California, and greater San Diego County, can set you or your child up with an experienced counselor with the necessary skills to work through life’s difficulties. Call us today at 619-646-8283 or contact us online to ask questions and schedule your first appointment.