Child Therapy Denver
Are You Concerned For Your Child’s Emotional Wellbeing?
Is your child experiencing social and/or academic difficulties in school? Have they begun showing changes in their mood and behavior? Do you worry that they’re exhibiting signs of anxiety, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD), ADD or ADHD, trauma or depression?
Perhaps your child visibly struggles to manage emotions. They may be experiencing mood swings or becoming easily irritated or withdrawn. Or maybe they no longer find pleasure in the activities they once used to love, like playing with friends, riding their bike or watching their favorite TV show.
Seeing your child struggle emotionally is a difficult experience for a parent. You just want them to feel seen, supported and, most importantly, happy again.
Kids Today Face A Myriad Of Challenges That Can Impact Their Mental and Emotional Health
Perhaps your child has endured a traumatic event and, as a result, has nightmares, insomnia and/or panic attacks, or becomes hypervigilant. For example, your family may have gone through a life-changing event, like the loss of a loved one, divorce or separation. Or it could be that your child is being bullied at school and finds it difficult to make and maintain friendships. Additionally, maybe you’ve noticed the following symptoms have become commonplace in their life:
● worry or anxiety
● emotional outbursts, persistent sadness or aggression and defiance
● poor concentration
● hyperactivity or impulsivity
● persistent fear or anxiety surrounding OCD-related obsessions
● a concern or excessive focus on performing certain tasks
● a strong reaction to sensory-related stimuli
● skin-picking or hair-pulling
It’s quite possible that your child feels confused and overwhelmed by everything they are experiencing.
At Elevation Behavioral Therapy, we understand that parenting is no easy job. However, you don’t have to understand and help your child to overcome these issues alone. Our team of skilled therapists is here to provide the support and resources you need to help your child grow and recover from challenges.
Children Are Especially Vulnerable To Factors That Can Affect Their Development
In today’s world, children (just like adults) face unprecedented challenges for which they need support through therapy.
For example, according to the CDC, ADHD, anxiety, behavior problems, and depression are the most common mental disorders in children. Additionally, for children between two to eight years, boys are more likely than girls to have behavioral, mental, or developmental disorders.
COVID-19 Has Significantly Contributed To Mental Health Issues In Children
During the pandemic, the closure of schools and the transition to remote learning caused a disruption of regular school routines. Children had to not only adapt to learning through computer screens but were also isolated from their peers and unable to engage in normal social interactions. Additionally, the frequent use of social media has had a huge and lasting impact on kids who spend a significant amount of time online.
When most children transitioned back into classrooms, they were facing even more challenges. After being accustomed to remote learning over a long period of time, returning to a school environment became overwhelming to many. Children are still struggling with readjusting to the structure, routines, and social dynamics of in-person schooling. This can manifest in various ways, including behavioral issues and difficulties in regulating emotions.
While helping your child with such challenges may feel daunting, we firmly believe that every child has the potential for positive growth and development. Where they are today is not indicative of where they will be in the future.
Therapy offers a healthy outlet for your child to learn to manage heavy emotions.
Therapy Gives Your Child The Ability To Be Just That— A Kid
At Elevation Behavioral Therapy, we provide your child with a safe space outside of their home and school life to feel comfortable, not having to filter themselves but feel accepted and supported. Our therapists are kind, warm, open and non-judgmental.
What To Expect During Child Therapy Sessions
Our sessions will involve discussing and processing whatever your child would like. From relationships or dynamics at home, to what's going on at school.
Oftentimes, children will come to us struggling with anxiety, behavioral challenges, problems at school, issues or changes in their family or home environment, or with symptoms of trauma or OCD. If or when the need arises, our wonderful, attentive therapists will involve your child’s school for the best care possible.
During therapy, our ultimate goal is for your child to be able to process issues and learn skill sets to cope with whatever they're currently experiencing.
Our Approach To Child Therapy
Some of the proven treatment methods we use in sessions with children are:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
is a modality that we use to help children who are struggling with anxiety, trauma, depression, OCD and OCD-related disorders. Using this method, we teach children healthy coping skills to regulate their emotions and manage their behaviors more effectively.
The premise of this therapy is that negative thoughts and beliefs contribute to children’s anxiety, distress and problematic behaviors. Identifying unhelpful thoughts and challenging and restructuring them into more positive, realistic ones, can help them develop balanced, positive perspectives to combat difficult situations.
CBT also includes parent involvement. Our therapists work with children and parents to provide guidance and strategies that will help bolster therapeutic techniques and encourage positive changes outside of therapy.
Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP) Therapy
is a therapeutic method where your child is very gradually exposed to scenarios that induce anxiety or distress. ERP is especially helpful for children with anxiety, trauma, OCD and OCD-related disorders, such as emetophobia.
ERP therapy helps children confront their fears and reduce avoidant behaviors. During exposure, your child is encouraged to resist or avoid engaging in their usual or anxiety-driven response. This could involve, for example, refraining from avoiding an anxiety-producing school interaction or performing specific rituals. By repeatedly practicing this, your child will gradually learn that their anxiety decreases naturally over time, without engaging in the usual compulsive behaviors.
Play Therapy
Play Therapy is used to encourage communication and expression, especially in cases where children aren’t able to articulate their problems to their parents or caregivers. Our office has toy boxes, sensory fidgets and fun games that will naturally excite your child.
Through play, children develop an understanding of the world and their place in it. They are able to express their innermost feelings and most profound emotions. Our therapists interact with your child in their world because it can be difficult for children to articulate themselves in the adult world. We do not apply pressure and allow them the space to share at their own pace while using their own form of communication.
Play therapy allows healing and promotes positive interactions within therapy sessions. It is a child-centered therapy that creates a nurturing environment where children can freely express themselves, explore thoughts and emotions and work through their anxious thoughts, challenging experiences and traumas.
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP)
Child-Parent Psychotherapy (CPP) focuses on the relationship between you and your child. With CPP we aim to help you understand your child’s emotional needs and enhance healthy communication.
During sessions, we also spend time getting to know family history, needs and various challenges. CPP helps teach you strategies to manage problems within the relationship between you and your child while finding solutions to strengthen the bond you both share.
As a loving parent or caregiver, we know you only want the very best for your child. You want to see them enjoy their childhood and have a bright future. Child therapy can equip your son or daughter with lifelong skills that will contribute to their personal growth and development.
Perhaps You Are Considering Child Therapy But Still Have Some Questions…
Let Us Help Your Child Enjoy Life Again
If your child is struggling with their mental health or experiencing challenges and you don’t know where to turn, Elevation Behavioral Therapy can offer you the comfort, support and resources you need to help your child and witness the light come back into their eyes.
To book a free initial consultation or first appointment, schedule with us directly online using our booking link below. Or you can email us at support@elevationbehavioraltherapy.com or call or text us at (720) 295-6566.
A happier life for your child starts here!
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