What Is Children's Therapy? Counseling For Children & Adolescents

Mental health support for children and adolescents

Where should you start when considering child therapy for your child, or wondering what exactly is child therapy? '

Many therapy options are available for children, from parent-child interaction therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and trauma-focused counseling to sand tray therapy and play therapy for children.

Each form of children's counseling, or pediatric counseling, offers unique benefits, and these essential services can assist children of all ages. You can find an overview of these types of support services for your child or teen below.

What happens in children's therapy?

Why consider child therapy? Mental health conditions, coping skills, and big feelings

There are many reasons why a parent or caregiver may consider children's therapy for a child. Traumatic life events such as the death of someone close to the family, major health problems, divorce, and bullying are a few reasons you may seek therapy for your child.

Often, if a child is experiencing problems or exhibiting disruptive behaviors in school, a teacher or school counselor may recommend that a family seek support from a pediatric therapist.

In addition, the CDC reports that among children aged two through eight years old, 17.4% have been diagnosed with a mental, behavioral, or developmental disorder.

• Over 50% of children ages three to 17 with behavioral disorders have received therapeutic treatment.
• Nearly 80% of children with depression have received therapeutic treatment.
• Children's therapy is a popular and often effective approach that can help remove mental health stigmas. 

Therapeutic treatments

Children’s therapy can take many forms depending on the therapist and the child's unique needs. Below are a few therapeutic treatment options often utilized to support children, parents, and families.  

Play therapy is a therapy for children that might use play, toys, and roleplay to help a child articulate and express emotions and inner thoughts. Play therapy is designed to work from a child's perspective.

There are two main types of play therapy:

• Directive playtherapy
• Nondirective playtherapy

Both types of therapy may help a child feel at ease and open up to their therapist. 

The benefits of play therapy: Skills learning and processing emotions

Rather than having a child sit and answer questions, play therapy can allow kids to learn skills and process emotions through tactile play and exploration. A play therapist can engage children and make them feel that therapy is an imaginative experience.

Play therapy can also help a child build confidence or illustrate conversations. For example, children might act out a scene or tell stories indicative of inner thoughts or emotions to help their mental health therapist understand what they're experiencing. 

CBT in therapy for children and adolescents

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is often used with children, adolescents, and adults. This type of therapuetic treatment can teach an individual how to replace unhelpful thoughtswith more constructive thoughts.

CBT therapy may offer children specific skills to cope with stimuli that make them uncomfortable. It may also address behavioral, social, and emotional thought processes. 

Social skills training during child therapy

Social skills training is another method that may help children who experience difficulty interacting with others. Social skills training can teach children valuable social skills that can help them make friends, navigate interpersonal relationships, and manage difficult social situations.

Children with specific mental health conditions like social anxiety may benefit from learning about social skills in a therapeutic environment. However, it is important to note that these therapies may not be beneficial for all kids, such as those with autism.

Social skills training may cause some children further difficulties and stress from forced eye contact, socialization, or behaviors they're uncomfortable with. In addition, some behavioral training programs were associated with increased rates of post-traumatic stress disorder in individuals with autism. 

The benefits of social skills training and therapy

Social skills training can be beneficial for children who struggle with social interactions, as it teaches practical skills like communication and conflict resolution. Some therapists may incorporate role-playing or group activities to help children practice their social behaviors in a supportive, therapeutic environment.

Trauma-focused therapy for children

Trauma-focused therapies and services for children may aim to help children who have lived through traumatic events.

Post-traumatic stress disorder, or PTSD, can affect children of all ages, including infants as young as nine months. Children who have experienced trauma can also develop other mental health disorders later in life, like borderline personality disorder.

Some child therapists are specifically trained to help children process these complex thoughts and heal from adverse experiences. Trauma or PTSD in children can occur from natural disasters, loss, divorce of caregivers, witnessing or experiencing abuse, or other adverse events in their childhood. 

Grief therapy for children

Grief counseling can help children who are recovering from a loss. A child therapist can help children find a healthy way to express emotions and understand the various stages of grief. Because children in specific developmental stages may process death or other losses differently than adults, grief therapy can help children understand these experiences in a way that makes sense.

For example, some therapy centers offer grief resources to children, such as art therapy, sandboxes, or therapy groups with other children. These therapeutic treatments may allow children to express sadness without fear. 

The benefits of grief therapy: Coping skills for managing complicated feelings

Grief therapy for children is a safe space for children to explore their feelings around loss and sadness. A compassionate therapist can help children develop coping strategies tailored to their age and emotional needs. Therapists may use creative therapy techniques like drawing, storytelling, or group activities to help children process their emotions.

What is family counseling with children?

Family therapy can offer support to children alongside the whole family. Children with behavioral concerns may hear negative feedback at home, negatively impacting self-esteem or worsening their behaviors. 

A therapist can work with parents to develop behavioral plans for their children, positive reinforcement strategies, and compassionate care to help them most effectively manage their child's behaviors. Many family therapies are child-centered, focusing on the child's needs, emotions, and desires.

The benefits of family therapy

Family counseling can help strengthen relationships and improve communication among family members. Working with a therapist can provide families with practical strategies to address conflicts and support their child's emotional well-being. Therapists specializing in family therapy often focus on fostering a collaborative environment where both the parents and children feel heard and supported.

Group counseling or therapy for children

Group counseling may help children experiencing mood disorders or loneliness. Group therapy can allow children to interact with their peers, who may be experiencing similar challenges, to know they aren't alone.

For some children, group therapy may be less intimidating than a one-on-one therapy session. Group therapy might also help children build social skills and self-esteem by allowing them to interact with other children in a healing, therapeutic context. 

Speech therapy for children

Speech therapy is a common form of therapy that can help children with their speech impediments, language problems, or developmental delays. Speech therapy for children is not considered a mental health, therapeutic service; however, it may be helpful in assisting children with their communication skills.

Thus, in-person or online speech therapy from a licensed speech language pathologist may be beneficial for children with speech impediments or delays.

The benefits of speech therapy

Speech therapy can help children improve their communication skills, enabling children to express themselves more effectively. A licensed therapist specializing in speech and language can work with children to address specific challenges, such as their articulation or language comprehension. Therapists may use interactive exercises, games, and personalized techniques to make the learning process engaging and supportive for children.

What is children’s therapy? Mental health therapy options

Child and family counseling and therapy can be a worthwhile option for parents and children. As parenting a child can often come with increased responsibilities and a busy schedule, it may be challenging to find therapy that fits in with school, work, or family schedules.

Now, it is possible to find a therapist by searching for "child therapist near me" to get a list of the closest options.

Online children's therapy: Benefits for parents

One study explored the effectiveness of an online therapy program for parents and found the program had positive effects on the parents': 

• Psychological flexibility
• Emotional control
• Mood
• Coping skills

Another study examined online CBT's effectiveness in treating anxiety disorders in adolescents. It found online delivery of CBT to be equally efficacious as clinic-based, face-to-face therapy in treating adolescent anxiety disorders.

Connect with a counselor or therapist through an online therapy platform