In a world where it may seem that your child is struggling, you have the power to teach your child to thrive. I believe all of us have the potential to do great things. As a parent, you are in a unique position to help your child flourish. Parents can learn to help their children better navigate challenges that arise. Where others see barriers, I see opportunities to assist others to maximize their capacity for growth.
Parent Training
Parents play a critical role in helping children optimize their own strengths. They can teach and model what to do when a child is triggered or escalating. Coping strategies can be learned and refined throughout the life span. A plethora of tools exist to help one’s children become more effective with self-regulation strategies.
One method of treatment for children and adolescents with anxiety disorders I employ is called SPACE (Supportive Parenting for Anxious Childhood Emotions). SPACE training is unique in that it does not require session attendance by anxious children or teens themselves; changes parents learn to make in their own behaviors and accommodations lead to better functioning and reductions in distress without need for therapy buy-in by their impacted child. For more information about SPACE, click here.
Other methods of treatment for children with assorted challenges I use combine behavioral principles that can be initiated on the parenting level in conjunction with skills taught directly to the child or adolescent.
Self-Esteem Building
Believing in oneself is one of the most powerful tools an individual can possess. Learning to do so has benefits that impact self-confidence, relationships and productivity at work and at home. I believe we find what we look for – if we look for areas of weakness, we will doubt ourselves and feel poorly accordingly. If instead we learn to look for areas of strength, we may find ourselves surprised at what we are able to accomplish. Recognizing our innate abilities coupled with the intentional addition of “bonus effort” can lead to increases in sense of self-satisfaction and pride.
I work with individuals ages 7+ up to and throughout adulthood. I routinely provide treatment to clients seeking assistance with anxiety, depression, grief, stress management, coping skill development and refinement, and/or adjustment challenges. Feel free to inquire here with any questions you may have about me, my approach or my practice.
Psychological Challenges Commonly Seen in Children/Adolescents
Elementary School – Elementary school may be a child’s first experience in a structured, demand-filled environment with similarly aged peers. As compliance with rules becomes expected, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) may become more apparent. Some children react to increased demands with fear; for them, anxiety disorders such as generalized anxiety, separation anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder and selective mutism may emerge. Others in the face of higher demands retreat inward; depressive disorders can come to light at this time. Another subset responds to more stringent requirements through externalizing behaviors; oppositional defiant behaviors may start to be seen here. Also, certain manifestations of autism spectrum disorder may become more evident as children’s social skills (or deficits therein) are tested.
Middle School – During middle school, peer groups become much more central to a young person’s life. Fitting in with one’s peers can feel like a primary agenda and youth may begin to become less family-centric. Anxiety and depression remain common, and eating disorders and more severe bullying may materialize.
High School – In high school, academic demands kick into higher gear while adolescents are navigating continued social pressures. Peers remain important especially during the earlier years of high school; hormone regulation poses an additional challenge. Internalizing disorders such as anxiety and mood disorders continue with relatively high prevalence; externalizing disorders such as oppositional defiant disorder, conduct disorder and drug and/or alcohol misuse may be seen more in this population.
