Choosing A Child Counselor
Entrusting your child's mental well-being to a professional can be a beneficial step in supporting their mental health needs. If you're seeking mental health services for your child, you may be unsure where to start. Pediatric counseling can be a great option to consider, as it focuses specifically on the unique needs of children and adolescents and can offer valuable support for their emotional and psychological well-being.
Looking for a mental health professional with whom your child connects and feels comfortable and whose experience treating children aligns with your child's needs can be valuable. Below are a few tips on choosing a suitable fit.
Reasons for finding a child therapist for your adolescent or teen
There can be several reasons a child may benefit from mental healthcare. For some children, behavioral concerns or educational challenges affect their lives negatively. Others might have been diagnosed with mental health conditions like depression, anxiety, ADHD, or OCD. Children might sometimes have trouble connecting with their peers or separating from their parents in a healthy way.
Children typically experience emotional ups and downs as they learn to control emotionally. However, if your child shows frequent nervousness, feelings of hopelessness, low self-esteem, repetitive self-destructive habits, changes in sleep or eating patterns, or excessive negativity, child counseling might benefit them.
The benefits of a therapist or a child counselor
How to explain mental health therapy to your kids
Choosing a children’s counselor
Below are some methods for choosing a child counselor.
Talk to your child's pediatrician about your child’s therapy
The first person you may want to consider talking to about your child's behavior is your child's pediatrician. They may confirm whether any underlying health conditions contribute to the concerning behavior based on the child’s age and symptoms. If this is not the case, a child psychologist or therapist may be an option. You can ask your child's doctor for a referral or look for a professional on your own.
You can also find therapists by contacting the guidance counselor at your child's school or by speaking with friends and family to get advice and referrals to child counselors. Depending on the mental health support you’re seeking, the school counselors themselves may be a good fit for your child’s needs. You might also attend sessions, lectures, or workshops in your area to learn more about specific therapists and what they offer. Your child's school may also have mental health resources for families experiencing distress.
Often, a part of choosing a counselor, especially in a child counselor career, maybe examining their qualifications. The professional may have obtained a graduate-level degree, gained experience in child and adolescent psychology, acquired continuing education credits, and completed additional training specific to child therapy. For example, a clinical child psychologist, where child psychologists work, might have a doctoral degree involving advanced training in child psychology and addressing mental disorders. On the other hand, counselors in social service offices may have different education requirements.
Meeting with a potential therapist can help parents find a proper fit. You might want to learn as much as possible about a provider before you agree to schedule your child's first session. Consider asking questions about their background, their experience addressing your child's specific challenges, and how they treat their clients. You can ask how frequently you can talk with the counselor and how they might update you on progress.
Consider talking to around two to three child therapists or counselors before choosing one to work with your child. If you only talk to one person, you may not understand how others could offer support. Try to be patient with your meetings and ensure you communicate effectively with each therapist.
Ensure your child's comfort
After speaking to a provider, ensure your child is also comfortable with them. It may be a positive fit if they can open up to this person about their thoughts and feelings. If they are scared of the provider or refuse to go to sessions, open a conversation about how you can make therapy work more for them. Once you know that the therapist is trained and that your child feels comfortable with them, you may choose to start sessions.
Different types of child therapy
There are several methods therapists may engage with your child to find out their concerns, symptoms, and needs. Each type of counseling could support children in various ways and may be used in conjunction with another method.
Play therapy
Play therapy allows your child to play with toys, draw, or creatively express themselves while the therapist observes and talks to them. This expression can give them an outlet for their emotions that other methods may not provide. It's often used for children who are of elementary age or younger.
Children can benefit from group settings where they're put into a situation with other children and teens experiencing similar symptoms. These children may be encouraged to form social skills and create bonds to overcome concerns like shyness or bullying.
CBT is a standard counseling form for all ages that can be effective for children. Cognitive-behavioral therapy might allow your child to recognize thoughts that make them uncomfortable and respond to them with healthy behaviors.
Options for counseling online
Parents looking for mental healthcare for their children or themselves may struggle to find support due to barriers to in-person treatment. For example, many individuals experience financial stress, busy schedules, or an inability to commute to an appointment. In these cases, online therapy may be an option.
Research shows that online therapy can help parents provide care to their children when they're experiencing symptoms of mental health conditions. In a meta-analysis of 19 studies, researchers found that online interventions can help parents address their children's mood and behavioral concerns. The analysis also highlights the program's ability to help parents connect with professionals.
If you're looking for mental health care to address challenges related to parenting, your child's emotional well-being, or other areas of your life, consider utilizing an online therapy platform like BetterHelp. The platform allows you to connect with a therapist who fits your preferences. You can also find a provider who has openings that fit your schedule. If you're looking for therapy for your teen child from 13 to 19 years of age, you can sign them up for a platform like TeenCounseling, which offers similar benefits.
Takeaway
Frequently asked questions
What is the role of child counselors for your child’s mental health?
Can children be a client of therapy or child counseling?
What is child development?
What are the roles and responsibilities of a child therapist?
What are the duties and responsibilities of a therapist?
How is child counseling done?
What is a child psychologist called?
Is counseling or therapy effective for children?
What are basic counseling skills?
What skills do you need to be a counselor?
What are the aims and objectives of child counseling?
Where does a child therapist work?
What are the 3 basic roles of the child counselor?
What is the role of the counselor for children in school?
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