The Importance of Early Intervention: Why Children's Therapy Matters
The Importance of Early Intervention: Why Children's Therapy Matters
Child therapy, also known as child counseling or talk therapy, is a specific form of individual counseling that focuses on addressing the emotional, behavioral, and developmental needs of children and teenagers. As rates of mental illness continue to rise in the United States, the benefits of early therapeutic intervention cannot be overstated.
On this week’s episode of the More Than a Therapy Couch Podcast, we sit down with Stephanie DiZenzo-Priestley, LPC, ACS, an experienced child therapist at Tree of Life Counseling Center to discuss trends in presenting conditions amongst children, as well as relevant therapeutic approaches.
Who is taking part in children’s therapy?
Licensed therapists or counselors who specialize in working with children are well-versed in how to help young clients and their families work together as a unit to facilitate change.
“I think a really important piece of the work that I do is helping to empower parents,” DiZenzo-Priestley notes.
In most cases, parents or caregivers play a crucial role in the therapeutic process, offering support, feedback, and enforcement of techniques learned within sessions. Child therapy can serve as an important space for children and adolescents to learn autonomy, navigate challenges, and foster healthy emotional and social development. However, it is also an important space for parents and siblings to come together as a family unit and learn what changes each individual can implement to create a supportive family environment.
DiZenzo-Priestley states it is important to note that “change is not just happening in that one 50 minute session with your child.” In order to gain the most therapeutic benefit from children’s sessions, parents must incorporate techniques and skills outside of sessions to reinforce their efficacy.
What does children’s therapy look like?
A licensed therapist may utilize a variety of evidence-based therapeutic modalities that are tailored to meet the unique needs of children and adolescents. Some types of child therapy include play therapy, art therapy, music therapy, sand tray therapy, family therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), and dialectical behavior therapy (DBT).
Unlike traditional talk therapy with adults, children’s therapy usually does not consist of a client sitting on a couch verbally expressing their concerns and feelings. Instead, sessions may incorporate various activities that prompt clients to discuss topics of concern or engage in conversations about daily struggles.
Children communicate differently than adults and a skilled children’s therapist will tap into those methods of communication, which often take the form of play, art or music. The intention of engaging in this type of therapy is to help children make sense of their world in a manner they understand.
How do I know if my child needs therapy?
Some common goals of child and adolescent therapy include building healthy coping skills, improving emotional regulation, enhancing communication and social skills, improving self-esteem, reducing harmful behaviors, and developing a greater sense of self-awareness and resilience.
“As we move forward, we’re seeing a lot more children younger and younger presenting in therapy and I think that’s a direct correlation with parents' awareness of their own mental health and how mental health impacts on the day to day,” DiZenzo-Priestley notes.
While therapy may not be right for every child, it can be an additional supportive space for children to explore their feelings with a trusted professional. Ultimately, the decision to engage in therapy is personal and individual, but DiZenzo-Priestly encourages those who are considering therapy for their child to consult a mental health professional to determine if therapy is right for their child.
“If you feel like your kid needs some extra support, your family needs extra support, there’s no shame in that. We all need help sometimes.”
To listen to the full episode of More Than a Therapy Couch, visit https://www.youtube.com/@TreeofLifeCC or find us on YouTube, Apple Podcast, Spotify, and Pandora.
About Tree of Life Counseling Center
At Tree of Life Counseling Center in Princeton, NJ and Freehold, NJ, we have an experienced team of 50+ clinicians to help support you, and your family, through whatever you may be facing. Schedule an appointment today by calling 732-393-8391 or filling out an online form at https://www.treeoflifecc.org/start-today.