Child Therapy

**“I feel like *something* is going on with my child, but I can’t figure out what’s wrong.”**
**“I can’t seem to get my kid to focus or follow instructions.”**
**“My child EXPLODES when he doesn’t get what he wants.”**
**“My kids take sibling rivalry to a whole new level.”**
**“We’re trying so hard to help our child heal, but nothing is working.”**

It can be really difficult to know how to help your child feel happier, calmer, and more confident. Even if you’ve read all the parenting books and talked to professionals, parenting can still be confusing and discouraging if your interactions with your children are a struggle. Many parents find this experience to be really isolating, because admitting that things aren’t great or that you don’t feel connected to your child comes with a heaping side of guilt and self-blame. It might feel like a constant struggle just to communicate with your kid, much less find the joy (and harmony) in the relationship. Chances are, your child feels the tension, confusion, and disconnect too, and doesn’t know how to talk about it.

Many parents are living with daily reminders that their parenting experience is not at all how they imagined it would be.

For some, power struggles are getting in the way of happier exchanges with their kids. For other parents, they’ve tried getting their child counseling before and their child still seems explosive or anxious. It can feel like, as a parent, you must be doing something wrong with your child since everything still feels so difficult. Plus, if you’re parenting in a blended or adoptive family, you are likely dealing with additional adjustment and attachment challenges that can feel never-ending. Some parents feel like constant referees or mediators, always being drawn into their children’s arguments or even breaking up a fight. Whether something specific is getting in the way of a better relationship with your child, or if you feel clueless in finding the source of the struggle, you are not alone.

Therapy for kids can pave the way to a better relationship with your child, happier sibling interactions, and a more fulfilling parenting experience.

Our initial sessions are parent(s)-only, so you can freely share your hopes and expectations for your family, as well as the difficulties and challenges present in your relationship with your child. We create the treatment approach and goals together, because you know your child and your family best. We will discuss what might be most helpful, and what you might have tried in the past. I will give you some ideas or strategies in that first session that you can apply right away, and we will discuss the best ways to move forward with your child’s therapy.

For parents hoping to build and increase attachment, trust, and self-esteem in their children, sessions using Theraplay techniques, creative activities, and EMDR can be extremely healing for the child and family relationships. For children who struggle with attention, impulse control, or self-regulation, we spend time using stories, toys, and art to build up their skills.

Parents are always welcome to participate in their child’s appointments. Counseling sessions will engage you and your child in games and activities aimed to connect, challenge, and nurture the child and the relationship. We work (and play!) together to strengthen the relationships between children and parents. Depending on your child’s age and your comfort level, I can structure child therapy sessions to work one-on-one with your child, while providing regular updates and feedback to you. We will also meet for parent sessions to give you extra support, explore attachments, receive feedback, and celebrate progress.