All good parents strive to protect their children from unnecessary harm. But sometimes, despite our best efforts and intentions, little kids still confront BIG issues. It can be difficult to imagine a child grappling with the weighty issues that devastate or stump adults, but in this modern world, children often wrestle with grown-up problems.
The unfortunate difference is that our kids often lack the emotional regulatory skills to cope successfully. Often lacking the maturity of vocabulary to talk through their feelings, children act them out instead, sometimes developing destructive compensatory behaviors that baffle and frustrate well-intentioned parents.
Difficulty forming healthy, emotional bonds to caregivers.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD); learning disabilities in reading, mathematics, or written language; dyslexia; speech disorders
Autism, Down Syndrome, Special Needs, failure to meet expected developmental milestones
Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Conduct Disorder, tantrums, aggression, rule-breaking (from minor infractions at school to criminal behavior)
Bullying or being bullied; debilitating shyness or social anxiety
Sexual, emotional, or physical abuse or neglect
loss of a family member; or a chronic health condition (such as cancer, diabetes, cerebral palsy, etc.)
Parental separation or the struggles of adapting to stepfamily formation
Depression, Anxiety, Panic Attacks, Insomnia or Sleep disturbances, Eating Disorders, Substance Abuse, Selective Mutism
To help your little ones (ages 2-9) adapt to the BIG issues, our team of child counseling experts recommends the use of play therapy and other research-based techniques designed just for them. By using the principles of age-appropriate structured, therapeutic play, we encourage your child to let down their emotional fortress and process the heavy issues in a developmentally appropriate (and fun!) context.
Added bonus here: we sneak in exercises to help your child learn more advanced skills for emotional/attention regulation AND pro-social (or compassionate) behaviors.
Pretty cool, eh?
Parenting is tough enough. When life gets tricky and your kids begin to show signs of distress, reach out. Let us help you help them!