Child & Adolescent Therapy Services
Does My Child Need Therapy?
It isn’t easy being a child or teenager these days. There are so many pressures that have to be navigated on a daily basis. These pressures can come from peers, school, developmental age, family dynamics, and even society at large. These problems can then carry over to the relationships experienced with family members, making it a difficult situation at home for everyone.
There are many ways your child may show you that they are in distress. For some, it’s acting out, fighting, having temper tantrums, or bullying their peers. For others, their warning signs may be withdrawing, shutting down emotionally, falling behind in school, or ignoring you. If your child is struggling with any of these issues, please give us a call. We can help.
• Feeling misunderstood by peers and parents, and/or feeling all alone
• Difficulty communicating their thoughts/feelings/wants/needs or having poor social skills
• Bullying-being bullied/teased or bullying others
• Peer pressure
• Emotion regulation
• Grief
• Not having enough confidence or low self-esteem
• Puberty and not understanding the natural changes that the body is going through
• Struggling with self-identity or LGBTQIA issues
• Anxiety -worrying, overthinking, stressing out, feeling tense or overwhelmed
• Depression-wanting to be left alone, feeling down/sad, not wanting to eat or overeating, problems sleeping, having
a difficult time concentrating/focusing, thoughts of death or suicide
• Self Injury-cutting, burning, picking, biting, headbanging
• Difficulty with academics/testing/homework
• Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)-hyperactive, unable to focus, fidgety, not able to follow directions,
losing things
• Preparing for transitioning to college and becoming an adult/independent
• Parental separation or divorce
• Anger issues
• Behavior issues
• Excessive use of social media and video gaming
• Substance Use/Abuse
• Trauma and Complex Trauma
Together, we will explore these pressures and problems in a safe and supportive environment. We specialize in a variety of modalities focused on child development, family dynamics, and emotional regulation to assess the individual needs of children and their families and identify treatment options that best fit them. Through a combination of play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and traditional talk therapy, our specialists will assess their behaviors, mood, and overall level of functioning.
Often, children’s behavior or emotional concerns result from external factors, and through assessment and evaluation, our clinicians work with the entire family to identify strengths to focus on and teach coping skills to reduce symptoms.
Children often have difficulty expressing themselves verbally, which can result in behavioral issues and negative thinking patterns. Play therapy provides children with the opportunity to express themselves through a language that is more recognizable to them — play. With the aid of a play therapist, children can learn skills and tools to better understand and express their thoughts and emotions, and can positively impact development.
The process is designed to help you as well. Your counselor may suggest new parenting strategies to support your child’s individual needs. Additionally, we can provide therapy to family members, should it be beneficial for your child’s treatment.
Reach out to get started with one of our specialized therapists in Tinley Park today. We look forward to hearing from you!