Therapy for Children in Los Gatos, Santa Cruz, Capitola and Scotts Valley
We specialize in helping children with:
Anxiety + Worries
Sadness + Depression
Anger Management
School + Academic Stress
Social Skills + Friendships
Divorce + Family Transitions
Behavioral Issues
Trauma
Why start child counseling and play therapy?
It can only be expected that children will experience some challenges throughout their development, engaging in occasional conflicts with parents, teachers, siblings, peers, and others in their life. As kids face new experiences, emotional ups and downs can trigger feelings of fear, worry, anger, depression, and anxiety. It is when these feelings interfere with your child’s life that meeting with a child counselor or play therapist may be very beneficial—to you both.
How can I introduce my child to the idea of counseling?
Some children may be hesitant about talking to a therapist or coming in to therapy all together. Don’t worry; this can be expected. However, helping your child better understand the process and the many benefits of talking with a counselor can definitely help. In general, providing an explanation that is concrete, positive, and not overly detailed can be helpful. Additionally, you may wish to describe the therapist as an expert in helping children feel better and be happier day to day. If you are having concerns about getting your child to come in for their first appointment, please let us know. We can give you specific pointers on how to make your child more comfortable based on his or her individual situation.
How can a therapist help my child?
By engaging in child therapy and play therapy with a trusted and compassionate TherapyWorks therapist, your child will have the opportunity to explore, express, and better understand his or her feelings in a safe and comfortable environment, while also learning new skills to better manage responses to life’s ups and downs. Essentially, the relationship your child builds with his or her counselor can promote positive change by providing invaluable opportunities to learn and grow.
How to make the counseling experience a success
Parents play a vital role in the success and outcome of child therapy. Meeting regularly with you during your child’s treatment gives us an opportunity to talk about the progress being made and helps us create a more effective plan moving forward. Often, parent coaching is advised to help you understand how to best support and guide your child outside of the therapy sessions. In addition, family counseling may be a valuable component that can enhance your child’s counseling experience.
Other concerns that child counseling can help with:
- Abuse – mental, physical or sexual
- Academic challenges or declining school performance
- ADHD, poor concentration or trouble focusing
- Adjusting to changes, such as the birth of a sibling, adoption or relocation
- Anger management
- Anxiety, excessive worrying or unexplained fears
- Behavioral concerns or acting out behaviors
- Bullying
- Dealing with crisis situations, also known as crisis management
- Depression, sad or hopeless feelings or excessive crying
- Family conflict, such as separation, divorce or blended family issues
- Grief and loss
- Illness
- Learning difficulties
- Life transitions
- Self-esteem
- Social skills
- Stress or overwhelm
- Suicidal thoughts or tendencies
- Trauma