Help from Child, Teenage Therapists in Meridian, ID

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At Meridian Counseling, we consider therapy for those under 18 (children and teenagers) to be an essential part of caring for our clients through all stages of life. This may begin with you as the child patient. It may also begin with a child receiving therapy while other family members (parents, step-parents, or siblings) seek individual, couples, or marriage therapy as well. Lastly, this process may take place if you start therapy as an older teen and continue in therapy as an adult.

Regardless of how a child fits into the picture, it is part of our therapy philosophy that children and teens should not be set aside when considering the overall family mental health or even society at large. Helping children and teens build healthy coping mechanisms and teaching them how to understand themselves sets them up to be happier and more successful adults.

Types of Therapy for Children and Teens

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Being a child is harder than adults remember. With the exception of traumatic memories, adults tend to view childhood as a simpler time.

What we often forget is that children are learning to deal with many of the same challenges that adults are without yet having learned how to regulate emotions, set boundaries, and control our impulses. And some children are learning to do all of these things with additional cognitive and mental health challenges. That's why a pediatric therapist can be so helpful.

Therapy for a child might especially be warranted to deal with issues like:

Mental Health and Neurological Concerns, including:
  • Autism spectrum disorders or understanding social cues
  • ADD or ADHD
  • Impulse control
  • Anger management
  • Low self-esteem
  • Depression 
  • Anxiety 
  • Addiction or substance abuse
  • Other mental health diagnoses

External Factors, including:
Depending on the age of the child or teen and the issues being addressed, various therapy modalities might be employed, with or without the parent(s) present. This is just a sampling of some that could be used:
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  • Play Therapy
  • Art Therapy
  • Sensory Therapy
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
  • Psychotherapy (Talk Therapy)
  • Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
  • Mindfulness Techniques
  • Walk-and-Talk Therapy
  • EMDR Therapy 
  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
  • Healthy Expression of Anger
  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
  • Behavior Management Therapy
  • Practicing Active Listening
  • Practicing Empathetic Listening
  • Practicing Asking for and Receiving Feedback

If you have questions about whether a psychologist, clinical therapist, or certified mental health counselor could benefit your child or teen, please don't hesitate
to reach out. We are here to help you feel less overwhelmed and to be a counseling resource to help your child.
 

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You can call (208) 803-5339 or contact us today to ask questions, begin an assessment to choose a therapist, or make an appointment. At Meridian Counseling, we are as invested as you in making sure your child ends up in the best possible therapeutic environment to help them grow and thrive into healthy, happy adults.
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