As parents, we all want the very best for our kids. If they break an arm, we rush to the hospital. If they have a cough, we head to the doctor’s office. But sometimes problems aren’t so obvious.
Internal struggles from anxiety, trauma, bullying, grief, or transitions in childhood can create big problems that these little people aren’t equipped to deal with on their own. Sometimes as parents, we aren’t equipped on how to help or when to step in.
Fortunately, a child therapist is available to provide help for kids of all ages and their parents to learn more about their feelings, emotions, behaviors, and create a healthy path for the future.
What Does a Pediatric Therapist Do?
Pediatric therapists work differently than other types of therapists. Children often don’t have the vocabulary to express themselves in the same way an adult would. At Innovative Family Therapy in Louisville, KY we help children through a variety of methods to handle different situations.
- A pediatric therapists’ main job is to work with kids’ emotional and mental state of mind.
- Common issues a pediatric therapist may work with include ADHD, anxiety, behavioral issues or changes, depression, academic underachievement, life transitions, among many other areas a small child may be dealing with.
- A child therapist may encourage talk therapy, but often use play and games to connect and reveal the feelings and emotions of children.
- Using a child therapist can help discover past issues or current distressful challenges.
- While focusing on the children, a child therapist can also help parents to understand their child better and learn how to support them better at home.
7 Reasons Why Your Kids Need a Therapist
It’s important to trust your instincts as a parent. If you feel like your child could benefit from a child therapist, it’s probably time to call Innovative Family Therapy in Louisville, KY. Some of the common symptoms we see include the following:
- A sudden change in eating or sleeping habits such as binging, oversleeping or refusing to eat, or lack of sleep.
- New or increasing destructive behaviors in forms of cutting, biting, self-harm, or drug use.
- Extreme feelings of sadness or worry for an extended period that gets in the way of normal everyday activities.
- Behavior issues that affect school or family life like acting out, talking back, or fighting.
- Isolating from friends, especially if this is outside of their normal personality.
- Increased physical complaints like stomachaches, headaches, etc.
- Talking about death, dying, suicide, killing others that seems more than normal curiosity.
What Happens in Child Therapy?
Kids learn by doing – so child therapy includes a lot of activities. Of course, there is talking, but therapy often includes drawing, playing, role-playing, solving problems together and practicing new skills.
Child Therapy FAQs
Why Choose Innovative Family Therapy?
At Innovative Family Therapy, we take care of each member of the family, from the oldest to the very youngest. In addition to providing children with support and guidance through difficult times in their lives, we give them actionable tools and exercises they can use for years to come.
Does Your Child Need a Therapist?
Just because children can be resilient doesn’t mean they should have to be. Sometimes life throws problems that children didn’t ask for and aren’t equipped to handle on their own. When emotional distress is affecting how your child feels, acts, or learns, seeking out a child therapist can be a helpful treatment option.
In therapy, kids talk, play, draw and learn how to work out their problems in a safe environment. Innovative Family Therapy in Louisville, KY teaches children to cope, communicate, and learn valuable skills they can use throughout their life.
