Children can experience long-term troubles from unresolved behavioral, emotional, and mental concerns. Addressing these concerns as soon as possible helps to reduce the long-term ramifications of these conditions. Academic performance, the formation of friendships, and development into healthy adulthood can all be impacted. At Aspire Psychological, your children will benefit from our team’s extensive background in treating children’s mental health concerns. Successful psychological therapy provides a central component to improving mental health in these children.
Understanding Mental Health Treatments For Children
The goal of mental health therapy is to provide the patient with tools to help manage their symptoms. Children who receive therapy can function more successfully in their community, at home, and at school. In very young children, it’s not uncommon for parents to be involved in the therapy sessions. As the child ages, this practice is less common in general therapy. In some cases, therapy sessions may include the entire family or individuals who are important in the child’s life. This can include friends, extended family, teachers, or even school counselors.
Parent-focused treatment focuses on working closely with the child’s caregivers. During these sessions, the parents will participate in discussions about the child’s feelings and behaviors. There are a few techniques that are used in treating mental and emotional health disorders in children. These include but are not limited to:
- Play Therapy
- Parent-Focused Behavior Management (PBM)
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Family Therapy
Each form of therapy has its own strengths when it comes to treating certain kinds of mental health concerns. Some examples can be found below:
- ADHD – Responds well to PBM and Child Behavioral Therapy.
- Disruptive Behavior Disorders – PBM, Child Behavioral Therapy, and CBT
- Anxiety, Depression, PTSD – CBT
Family Therapy and Interpersonal Psychotherapy are often best used in the treatment of adolescents. These methods aid in developing new communication skills, conflict resolution methods, and ways of managing relationships.
Help Your Family Heal With Aspire Psychological
The effectiveness of therapy is influenced by the needs of the family and child that are receiving it. Making an appointment at Aspire Psychological can be an important first step in helping your family improve communication, overcome difficulties, and grow closer. Children who have mental and emotional concerns that receive treatment have a greater chance of thriving as they grow into adulthood. Your first step is scheduling a comprehensive evaluation with Dr. Berlin at our location in Nutley, NJ.
During this evaluation, you may receive questions about topics including:
- Presence of symptoms and problems that prompted the visit
- Medical history, including illnesses and injuries, and how they have been treated.
- A list of current medications
- Any development concerns
- Information about relationships and academic performance
- Details of family relationships
- An interview of family members, including the parents and children
Following the evaluation, Dr. Berlin may order lab tests, including x-rays, blood tests, or further assessments. These assessments may touch on language development, educational development, and further psychological testing. If you or your family are concerned about mental or emotional health concerns and their impacts, reach out to Aspire Psychological for an appointment today.