Kids experience a wide range of things in their lives. From changes at home to school stressors and medical diagnoses to loss, kids go through things that require support from outside the home. School struggles, behavior issues, and other concerns can all benefit from the help of counseling. At Mansfield Christian Counseling in Texas, counseling for children offers your child help now and in the future.
Understanding what to expect is helpful when deciding if counseling is right for your child.
Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(469) 333-6163
Mansfield Christian Counseling offers children a safe space with a trained professional they can trust. The counselors in our offices will help your child navigate and work through whatever challenges they are facing.
Just as in other types of counseling, a licensed therapist will work with your child. Often, a therapist will utilize talk therapy. However, there are a variety of ways a therapist can work with children to help them feel comfortable and express themselves. Therapists can use different activities and approaches including play therapy and art therapy to connect with a child.
A counselor can help your child address something he or she is going through right now, upcoming changes, or past issues to help him or her move forward. The counselor can offer your child support, understanding, and strategies for today and as he or she grows.
Children need help with a vast array of things. These can be very specific, relating to a concrete event, or they can be more general. Either way, we are here to help. Examples include:
- Fear
- Anxiety
- Behavior issues
- Divorce
- Sexuality
- Self-harm
- Loss of a loved one
- School struggles
- Special needs
- Mental health diagnosis
- Depression
- Food/eating issues
- Social concerns
- Trauma/traumatic events
- Blended family struggles
- Sexual abuse
- Physical abuse
- Emotional abuse
- Anger/aggression issues
- General disinterest or lack of engagement
- Bullying
- Suicidal thoughts/ideation
- Substance abuse
- Substance abuse or addiction in the family
- Disorders such as post-traumatic stress disorder or obsessive-compulsive disorder
- Relocation issues
However your child is struggling, he or she can talk about it in the trusted environment of counseling. The therapist is there to help your child with his or her unique needs.
Your child is unique, with his or her own needs, personality, and preferences. We believe that you know your child best, but we also recognize that it can be hard when your child needs help that you can’t offer. At Mansfield Christian Counseling, our goal is to work with you to offer your child what he or she needs.
Every child can benefit from having people that listen, support, and encourage him or her to move forward and grow. We can be part of that for your child and your family.
As you consider whether your child needs counseling, there can be some behaviors that you notice. These are things that indicate they could benefit from the kind of extra support a therapist can offer. Examples include:
- No longer having an interest in activities they used to enjoy
- Sadness or change in demeanor that lasts more than a day or two
- Changes in grades or school performance, especially if it is sudden
- Behavior issues at school
- New onset of bedwetting or accidents
- Always wanting to be with you
- Reverting to “baby talk”
- Sudden changes in eating or sleeping habits
- New talk about death or other morbid topics
- Physical ailments or illnesses
- Unexplained scars or cuts
Things like this can show that your child is struggling with something in his or her life. There are many more things you may also notice. As you think about your child, what stands out? What new behaviors do you see? Has anything about him or her changed? Do you have concerns? Ask yourself these questions to evaluate what he or she may be going through and how counseling can help.
Just as kids can have a vast array of struggles, they can have an array of ideas about counseling. Some kids may be eager to talk to a counselor. Don’t be surprised, however, if your child isn’t excited.
The therapists at Mansfield Christian Counseling can help you navigate how to talk to your child about counseling. They are also prepared to interact with your child no matter how eager he or she is to pursue counseling.
Often, the only way to know if it is right is to try it. Start by connecting with one of our therapists in Mansfield, Texas. When you start, commit to a certain number of sessions to give the therapist and your child time to develop a connection and trust. If your child is still struggling, you can tell the therapist that it doesn’t seem to be a good fit, and the therapist can help you find someone who will be.
We all know how that kids are unlikely to simply spend time talking about their problems. Counselors who work with children are trained in different ways to connect with kids. There are a variety of therapy techniques that can help children open up, express themselves, and process their thoughts.
While talk therapy will likely be part of your child’s counseling experience, these other strategies may also be utilized:
Play Therapy: Play therapy allows kids to do what they are often most comfortable with to feel secure and express their ideas. A counselor will interact with your child in strategic ways through play to guide the conversation, help your child express ideas, ask questions, and better understand your child.
Art Therapy: Creative expression is a scientifically proven way that people express their thoughts, feelings, and ideas. A counselor trained in art therapy can give your child creative opportunities to express himself or herself in ways he or she cannot do only through talking.
Music Therapy: Similar to art therapy, music can offer the same concept. Expression as well as the ability to calm people and make them more comfortable are a few of the benefits of music therapy. This can be especially true when tackling challenging or sensitive topics.
Parent-Child Therapy: There are types of therapy that involve both the parent and the child. Things like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Applied Behavioral Analysis are two ways parents can be involved in therapy. These approaches focus on different needs, but they can benefit the child and the family.
There is no one right way to counsel children. Just as children are dynamic, their therapy will often incorporate different types of therapy to meet their specific needs.
The Parent’s Role in Counseling for Children
The number one way a parent can be active in his or her child’s counseling is to be supportive. This means making counseling a priority and being consistent. It also means talking about it in positive ways that help your child feel good about what he or she is doing.
Parents may also have an active role in the therapeutic process. This could mean participating in sessions or providing feedback to the counselor. Additionally, some parents benefit from having their own counseling sessions to help them navigate whatever their child and family are experiencing.
To get started, all you need to do is reach out to our offices at Mansfield Christian Counseling. We will guide you through finding the best therapist for your child’s specific needs.
Often, we will have an intake appointment just with the parents to better understand why you are pursuing therapy for your child as well as any medical history of which we should be aware. This is a great time to ask questions and learn more about what you can expect. Once you are ready to move forward, we will set up a meeting with your child.
The counselors at Mansfield Christian Counseling are ready to help your child move through whatever they are facing to grow and learn. Connect with our office today and we will help you get started.
Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(469) 333-6163
