-->

Children and Adolescent Therapy

Children and Adolescent Therapy

Child and adolescent, or counseling for kids and teenagers, is an evidence-based approach to counseling, designed to help children and teens with their challenges. These challenges include mental illnesses, traumatic events, the loss of family members, difficult feelings and behaviors.

In children and adolescents, playing, drawing, building, and pretending, as well as talking, are important ways of sharing feelings and resolving problems. At Prosperity Counseling Center, we have a dedicated exploratory room for kids and young adolescents for them to explore their thoughts and feelings in a safe environment with a trusted adult.

As part of the initial assessment, one of our clinicians will determine the need for psychotherapy and type of therapy needed. This decision will be based on such things as the child’s current problems, history, level of development, ability to cooperate with treatment, and what interventions are most likely to help with the presenting concerns. Psychotherapy is often used in combination with other treatments (medication, behavior management, or work with the school). The relationship that develops between the therapist and the patient is very important. The child or adolescent must feel comfortable, safe, and understood. This type of trusting environment makes it much easier for the child to express his/her thoughts and feelings and to use the therapy in a helpful way.

Psychotherapy helps children and adolescents in a variety of ways. They receive emotional support, resolve conflicts with people, understand feelings and problems, and try out new solutions to old problems. Goals for therapy may be specific (change in behavior, improved relations with friends or family), or more general (less anxiety, better self-esteem). The length of psychotherapy depends on the complexity and severity of problems.