Children/Adolescents (like adults) can suffer from depression, anxiety, general stress, and other problems. In the modern world Children/Adolescents face a variety of intense pressures and stress. In fact, anxiety in children is more common than ever, especially anxiety about specific issues like school, bullies, and standardized testing. Therapy can help Children/Adolescent learn to cope better with the problems they face. It can also help families understand the problems better, and communicate better with each other.
How do I know if my child may benefit from therapy?
You know your child better than anyone else does.l Pay attention if you see changes in your child - if his/her grades drop, if he/she is sleeping more or less than normal, if he/she seems moody or unhappy, if his//her appetite changes or if he/she is more irritable or seems to have problems concentrating. Children suffering from anxiety or depression may also have headaches or stomachaches with no apparent physical cause, or may lose interest in their normal activities. If you notice any of these signs in your child, talk to his/her periatrician, teacher, or school counselor about what you have noticed. Consider starting counseling: a psychologist can help you understand what may be going on with your child, and how to help.
What is the Cost?
Child/Adolescent therapy at New Path is $135 per session (sessions are 50 minutes). Typically, therapy with children is conducted with both individual (alone with the child) and family sessions (to help parents and siblings communicate better, and learn to help each other).
When children experience emotional difficulty or problems functioning at home or at school, a family-based approach to intervention is often the most effective method to help reduce problematic symptoms and improve function. In family therapy the unique family values, patterns of communication, coping skills, cooperation, anger expression, and other issues are explored. The therapist will lead the family in discussions, projects, activities and other interventions designed to facilitate communication, empathy, and cooperation. Family members learn to listen to each other more effectively and learn to support each other more effectively. The goal is to strengthen not only the individual patient, but the family as a whole. Family members (children, teens and adults) can learn to more effectively express their own emotions, get their needs met, and meet the needs of others. Skills can be improved in areas including anger management, expressing affection, asking permission, sharing, helping, using self-control, responding to teasing, and giving/receiving compliments. Family therapy is an effective tool in treating anxiety, depression, and behavioral disorders.