Teen and Child Therapy
Children and teens face challenges every day that can take a toll on their emotional and mental health and wellbeing. Challenges ranging from typical normal life events like social pressures, school responsibilities, and family conflict to more significant life changes like divorce, moving, loss of a loved one, and trauma exposure can negatively impact the well being of a child or teen if the proper support is not in place.
We believe that the sooner we can support and equip children and teens with the right tools to manage stress, anxiety, depression, and mental or emotional health concerns, the better chances we have at setting them up for long-term health and success. We are not alone in this philosophy. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) advocates for the use of early intervention and therapy in children and teens to minimize the long-term impacts of mental health conners.
So where should you start?
Our goal is to support child, teens, and their families through evidence-based interventions and developmentally appropriate techniques to set them up for a lifetime of healthy and proactive mental health management. Everyone encounters struggles and challenges throughout their lifetime and if our child and teen therapy can equip them with skills for the present struggles and normalize the benefits of seeking help if future concerns or challenges arise, we believe we are empowering the life-long health and wellness of the child or teen.
At our Arlington, TX-based therapy practice, we understand the challenge that occur during childhood and adolescence and we are equipped with age appropriate tool and intervention to make therapy both effective and fun
Our team of therapist are ready to parter with you and your child or teen.
We understand that coordinating the help of a professional therapist can be difficult. We are here to help. Here are a few answers to frequently asked questions related to child and teen therapy:
+ Is online therapy appropriate for children and teens?
Online therapy is becoming more and more available and common, and yes online therapy can be effective for children and teens. At Salyer Counseling Group we offer both in-person and online therapy options. There are a few things to consider though, as some children and teens do respond better to in-person work. Here are a few questions to ask yourself when determining which option may be best for you and your child or teen:
- Does your child or teen seem to engage better in person or online?
- Does your child or teen have a truly private space to participate in therapy? (If there is not a truly private space for therapy to take place, and confidentiality cannot be guaranteed outside of the office setting, in-person services will be needed.)
- Does your child or teen have a busy schedule that may make online work consistent and accessible?
- It has been observed by our team therapist that older teens tend to be better than younger children in effectively engaging in online therapy services. While there are always exceptions and unique situations that arise, online therapy services are typically considered most appropriate for children over the age of 12 and with good motivation or excitement for therapy. We are always happy to discuss options with you as they pertain to the unique needs and capacities of your child.
+ What kinds of therapy do you use for treating teens and children?
- Each child or teen that we work with will have a unique and specific treatment plan developed to address their specific goals and needs. Therapy models and skill-building exercises can be taught and implemented in the form of games, art, and activity-based learning. Therapy does not have to be boring and our therapist work to make learning and processing fun. Three common interventions that are evidence and adaptable for the needs of teens and children include:
+ I want to be a part of my child or teen’s therapy experience, but I know confidentiality is a thing. How does that work?
- We are SO glad you asked. Parent/ guardian involvement and support it a big predictor of how successful therapy can be and how quickly children and teens make progress. So if you are wanting to take an active role in the therapy process with your child or teen, speak up and tell the therapist! Therapy can look many different ways and we can tailor the process to the needs of the child or teen we are serving. A few things to keep in mind or consider:
- We do maintain a confidential space for all clients including children and teens, but you will always be notified and informed if there are safety concerns.
- If your child or teen is learning new skills or assigned homework, this is a great opportunity to jump on board and try some new things as a family. Who knows, you might even learn some new skills too.
- There are lots of ways to get involved and stay informed. Talk to your child’s therapist about patterns of communication and levels of involvement that may be most effective for your child’s needs. Just remember to keep an open mind and see what you may be able to learn along the way too.
+ I would like for my child or teen to be in therapy, but we have a custody agreement in place in our family. Does that impact whether or not my child can receive services?
- At Salyer Counseling group, we understand that families come in all forms and vary in complexity. We are committed to offering the highest level of ethical care regardless of the unique challenges in family structure that may impact your child. If there is a custody agreement in place, we do require that we have a copy in the file of the child or teen before meeting with them. I can assure you that this is not because we enjoy reading legal documents or desire to be nosy in any way, but rather, we have a responsibility to confirm that whoever is giving consent for the treatment of a minor has the legal right to do so. We are committed to following the guides of any court order in place and will honor and advocate for the rights of all parties protected in any court orders.
Is your child or teen ready to have a professional support them in becoming their best and healthiest self? Contact us! We would be happy to discuss options for treatment with you.
