Childhood is a pivotal phase of development that lays the groundwork for a lifetime of well-being. Unfortunately, many children encounter emotional and psychological challenges that can profoundly impact their growth.
In such situations, finding expertise from a licensed professional counselor specializing in helping children and their families offers hope and a possible solutions. A child therapist can bring essential support to help children navigate their emotions and embrace a healthier outlook on life.
If you’re currently seeking a child therapist who’s office is near you, this article will guide you to find a competent mental health clinician.
Finding the Right Child Therapist
Before we get started, it’s important to understand a bit about children, therapeutic models and types of services. Children can gain benefits from different types of therapeutic models based on their specific needs:
- Family therapy
- Parent-child interaction therapy
- Play therapy
- Cognitive behavioral therapy
- Exposure therapy
Play therapy is often used with younger children who can’t yet express or articulate their feelings.
Most therapeutic interventions and counseling is designed to help children gain insight, new coping skills, express themselves and navigate their feelings within a safe and nurturing environment.
The primary goal of therapy is to help children recognize and overcome their fears through a series of therapeutic counseling techniques that offer children ways to learn strategies and see change in their behavior.
By helping children regulate their emotional expression they can:
- Enhance and practice new skills
- Modify their behaviors
- Develop and improve communication
- Address their relationship with their parents or guardian
- Build confidence and self-esteem
- Address stress and trauma
- Conquer transitions and life changes
The Role of Child Therapists
A child therapist understands children and their unique needs. As child therapists, our mission is helping children, adolescents, and sometimes even adults, address a wide range of concerns spanning from anxiety and depression to behavioral issues and the difficulties of growing up.
Like many counseling teams, CarePlus New Jersey is comprised of child therapists, licensed professional counselors, clinical social workers, child psychologist and psychiatrist that strive to provide comprehensive mental health services to children and adolescents.
Offering children and their family or guardians counseling skills that can empower them to find solutions to the challenges of life effectively.
Embarking on the Journey To Find a Child Therapist Near You
We recognize that finding a child therapist nearby is a crucial step in ensuring consistent and convenient support for your family.
Online directories can help you identify child therapists that have a local office near your area. Utilize search terms such as “child therapist near me” or “licensed professional counselor [your location]” to streamline your search and discover professionals who are conveniently located. By doing preliminary research, you can narrow down your options until you find the most compatible match.
When Should Children Start Seeing a Clinical Social Worker or Child Therapist?
The decision for a child to see a clinical social worker or therapist depends on the unique needs and circumstances of the child and family. However, some common indicators that a child might benefit from therapy include:
- Significant Changes in Behavior: If a child suddenly becomes withdrawn, aggressive, or shows drastic changes in sleep patterns, appetite, or academic performance, it might be an indication of an underlying issue.
- Traumatic Events: Experiencing or witnessing a traumatic event, such as the death of a loved one, divorce, or any form of abuse, can warrant therapy to help process emotions and trauma.
- Emotional Outbursts: If a child frequently has uncontrollable emotional outbursts, tantrums, or seems overly anxious or sad, therapy might help them manage and express their feelings.
- Social Issues: Struggling to make or keep friends, or frequent conflicts with peers, might indicate social challenges that can be addressed in therapy.
- Expressed Feelings of Hopelessness: Any talk of self-harm, suicidal thoughts, or expressing feelings of worthlessness should be taken seriously and addressed immediately.
- Developmental Delays: While not all developmental delays warrant therapy, if there’s a concern about the child’s emotional or social development, a therapist or social worker might offer beneficial insights and strategies.
- Family Issues: Changes in the family structure or dynamics, such as divorce, the birth of a sibling, or frequent family conflicts, can impact a child’s emotional well-being.
- Other Concerns: Sometimes, parents or caregivers might have a gut feeling or intuition that something is “off.” Trusting one’s instincts and seeking a professional opinion can be beneficial.
If parents or caregivers have concerns, it’s essential to consult with a pediatrician, school counselor, or another trusted professional to determine whether therapy might be helpful. Remember that seeking therapy is not an admission of failure or weakness; it’s a proactive step towards supporting the child’s emotional and mental well-being. Even if therapy is deemed unnecessary, it’s always better to err on the side of caution.
The Process of Selecting the Right Therapist
When it comes to selecting the ideal child therapist, expertise, referrals, reviews, and credentials are the pillars that support and identify a therapist’s skill set. Seek out licensed professionals, including a licensed professional counselor (LPC) or a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW).
Additionally, consider connecting with a child psychologist who holds a PsyD, as they can offer valuable insights into your child’s emotional landscape.
Collaboration and Empathy: Our Core Approach
If your family seeks counseling with CarePlus New Jersey, you’ll see that our approach too is deeply rooted in collaboration and empathy.
Working with diverse families our clinical team appreciates the child’s culture, values, and strengths, which enables us to provide a comprehensive and culturally sensitive therapeutic experience. Our sessions often encompass both child and parent or parents, allowing us to gain a comprehensive understanding of the dynamics and the specific issues your child faces within your family and their current social and school factors.
Through consistent counseling, parents and children alike begin to really see the child’s strengths and changes in behaviors and feelings.
Mental Health Counseling for Children, Adolescents and Young Adults
Mental health counseling offers a plethora of benefits from therapeutic relationships with the child and yields practical solutions, enhanced coping skills, increased self-esteem, and a deeper awareness of emotions.
A comprehensive counseling plan and guidance increases a child’s possible solutions. Honoring the values of a family means understanding the family culture and is being sensitive to include this in the therapeutic relationship. Asking and teaching children to learn new behaviors to manage school, home, and relationship concerns, must be performed by a competent clinician and involve both child and the parent or guardian.
Mental health therapy with children shows progress in a relatively short time span when the challenges they face are addressed right away.
Supporting Families Every Step of the Way
CarePlus NJ believes in treating the whole family system, which is why our child therapists don’t just work with the child individually. We place great emphasis on collaborating with families, providing them with effective measures to support their child’s emotional well-being.
By fostering stronger connections and improved communication within families, we facilitate an environment where children can thrive emotionally and academically.
Addressing Complex Issues: From Eating Disorders to Behavior Issues
The clinical expertise at CarePlus NJ extends to addressing complex issues such as eating disorders, anxiety, depression, and so much more.
Besides children, we also work collaboratively with adolescents and adults helping them develop a positive sense of self.
Customized Approaches
Most child therapists are well-versed in the unique issues that children and adolescents face, whether it’s school-related stress or difficulty navigating social relationships. Through evidence-based approaches, they provide tailored solutions that empower children to flourish emotionally and academically.
Initiating the Healing Process
Mental health therapy for children serves as a pivotal resource for children, equipping them with the tools needed to navigate life’s twists and turns. Utilizing a collaborative approach in counseling allows all clients to have a say and learn to use their voice. A client of any age begins healing as they open up and share feelings and concerns during counseling sessions.
Seeking a Child Therapist at CarePlus New Jersey
If you’re located in Northern New Jersey and on the lookout for a child and family therapist, our team is here to assist you. Your search can be narrowed down by seeking a licensed professional counselor (LPC), a child psychologist, or a clinical social work therapist (MSW, LCSW) in your area, who have a comprehensive grasp of therapeutic approaches.
With several locations, our office is near and accessible from most Northern New Jersey communities. All locations for CarePlus NJ, provide mental health counseling customized to helping children and adolescents, and adults. Our admissions department is always available to help provide guidance through this process. They can be reached by calling 201-996-5000.
Final Thoughts
Child therapy provides counseling and support to children, adolescents and their parents or guardians as they journey through the complexities of life.
Whether your child is grappling with anxiety, depression, behavioral acting out, or other issues, seeking the guidance of a licensed and empathetic child therapist is paramount.
In finding someone to provide mental health therapy choose a marriage family therapist or psychologist (PsyD) who specializes in a collaborative approach and listens to the values of the child’s family and circumstance.
Finding a child therapist near you is the first step toward providing unwavering support for your child.
Sources:
https://kidshealth.org/en/parents/finding-therapist.html
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/child-therapist-types-how-to-choose/
https://positivepsychology.com/therapy-for-kids-child-therapist/
https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/parent-behavior-therapy.html
https://psychcentral.com/lib/how-to-choose-the-right-therapist-for-your-child
https://www.verywellfamily.com/how-to-support-your-childs-mental-health-5208688
https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/coping-with-traumatic-events/index.shtml
https://childmind.org/guide/parents-guide-to-problem-behavior/
https://www.apa.org/topics/child-mental-health
Ashley Elizabeth Morolla, MA, LPC, ACS, CCTP, DRCC
Ashley Morolla is a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) who has been working in the field of mental health since 2007. Ashley is the Program Manager and lead trainer for our school violence prevention, and she directs the Power in Presence program offering Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) to youth in a group setting. Ashley specializes in the field of crisis and trauma and has been trained in Complex Trauma, Child and Adolescent Trauma and is an EMDR Certified provider.
