Therapy for Children & Adolescents in St. Louis, MO | Child Psychiatry & Teen Counseling Services
Concerned about a sudden change in your child’s behavior? Are you struggling to communicate with them? Work with our licensed clinical therapist to identify what is distressing your child. Together we can help your child feel better, grow stronger, and navigate life’s challenges successfully.
Call us at (314) 200-5131 for an appointment today.
Mental Health Issues in Children and Adolescents
Growing up in today’s modern world can be quite a tough ride. Besides peer pressure, bullying, and normal adolescent rebellion, your child has to navigate the challenges of growing up in a digital society and face increasingly high expectations as schools become more competitive. Your child can’t always figure it out or express their distress. Especially when they have very little control over most things that happen to them. This negatively affects your child’s mental health and if left unaddressed may affect their life later on as a young adult.
Here are some things to look out for:
- Persistent feelings of sadness or anxiety.
- Frequent temper tantrums.
- Struggles with school or social interactions.
- Difficulty managing emotions
- Losing interest in things they enjoy.
- Bedwetting
- Learning and developmental difficulties.
- Attention-Deficit Disorder (ADD)
- Obsessive-compulsive behavior
- A change in sleep or eating habits.
- Persistent thoughts or behaviors related to self-harm
What is distressing to your child may not seem distressing to you. That doesn’t mean the impact on your child is any less traumatic. They need your help to process and resolve the issue that is distressing them. But when your child’s behavior has gone beyond what is typical, it is time to consider seeing a child therapist or teen counselor.
Benefits of Child and Adolescent Therapy
Therapy for your child or counseling for your teen is beneficial for a variety of reasons. Intervention methods have to be adapted for different age groups. But the benefits are similar. Therapy can:
- Help your child open up and reveal what is distressing him.
- Help identify the root causes.
- Identify mental health illnesses that require intervention.
- Help your child gain coping skills.
- Help your child gain emotional regulation skills.
- Increase self-esteem and confidence.
- Help your child enhance relationships with family and peers.
What To Expect – Child Therapy and Counseling
Therapy sessions will take place in a therapeutic environment with a compassionate and nonjudgmental therapist. Your child’s therapist will meet your child where they are at, using various methods to effectively connect with him. Your therapist is a mental health professional who understands that every child has unique needs and works to identify what your child needs to increase his wellness.
Your therapist will work to establish a trusting relationship with your child and uncover the underlying issues that are affecting the child. Your therapist will then design an individualized treatment plan for your child that is suitable for your child’s age and developmental stage. Your therapist will use a variety of techniques tailored to help your child express themselves and work through difficult issues.
Your therapist will collaborate with you as you know your child better than anyone. Your input and participation in the treatment plan are essential.
During the course of child counseling, your therapist may identify that your child is suffering from a mental illness. In such cases, your therapist will discuss the treatment plan with you and determine whether your child needs medication in addition to counseling. If you decide to approve the usage of medication, an assessment will be arranged with our in-house psychiatric nurse practitioner. Children who need medication are required to be assessed by a psychiatric nurse practitioner to determine if medication is a good fit for the child.
Schedule your first session. Contact us at (314) 200-5131.
Types of Therapy
Depending on your child’s needs and counseling goals, your therapist will decide which is the right child therapy for him. Here are some of the different types of evidence-based therapy that many child therapists use:
- Behavioral Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-focused Therapy
- EMDR
- Art Therapy
- Music Therapy
- Play Therapy
- Family Therapy
Licensed Teen & Child Therapist for Your Family in St. Louis, MO
At West County Behavioral Health, we are dedicated to providing the highest quality therapy and counseling services for children and adolescents in the Greater St. Louis area. Located in Saint Louis, Missouri, West County Behavioral Health is readily accessible to the residents of St. Charles and St. Louis. We strive to create a safe and compassionate environment for our young clients. Our team of experienced clinicians specializes in working with child and adolescent clients. We are able to address a variety of mental health issues. Together with you, we can help your child regain his spark in life and empower him to thrive.