Counseling for Children & Teens in Richmond, Williamsburg, Newport News, & Virtually Throughout Virginia
“Is this normal? Is this just a phase? Does my child need help?”
Children are a moving target — just when you think you’re in a groove, something changes and a new challenge presents. These challenges might be passing troubles you can handle with a few tips, or they may be signs that some extra support would help.
Counseling can help meet the needs of children and families facing any of these situations.
Our approach is characterized by flexibility, responding to the unique needs of each family and child.
Counseling May Benefit Your Child During:
- Passing troubles that you as a parent can handle with a few tips and encouragement
- Adjustments related to transitioning to the next developmental stage
- Reactions to external events — a new baby, divorce, relocation, change of school
- Ongoing difficulties such as trouble controlling behavior, regulating emotions, making friends, or adapting to change
Our Approach to Child Counseling
Parent Consultation
Sometimes meeting with parents alone can resolve concerns. We view parents as the experts on their children; they are the ones implementing interventions on an ongoing basis. We strongly believe parents are the most important influence on their child, so our goal in therapy is to give parents the tools, confidence, and encouragement to meet their child’s needs.
Play Therapy
Young children do not have the words to explain their emotions and experiences. Play is the language of the child. By entering into the child’s world through games, art, and imaginative play, we help the child work through internal struggles.
Family Therapy
Sometimes it is beneficial to incorporate all members of the family in sessions to gain a better understanding of the environmental factors impacting the child. Families often find that in getting help for their child, the entire family benefits from increased insight, improved communication, and healthier relationships.
Art Therapy
Creative arts — drawing, painting, collage, coloring, and sculpting — can be used with children, adolescents, and adults to improve symptoms of anxiety, depression, trauma, and anger. Trained art therapists help clients utilize creative techniques to express emotions and understand the messages underlying their creations.
Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)
PCIT is an evidence-based treatment designed for children ages 2 to 7 and their caregivers who are struggling with social, behavioral, and/or emotional challenges. Conducted through coaching sessions, PCIT is implemented in two phases: enhancing the parent-child relationship and developing caregivers’ behavior management skills.
Our therapists draw on a range of evidence-based approaches including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) to support children and teens.
Supporting Teens
We love working with teenagers. We know they can be difficult to live with, but there’s something we love about getting into their world of intense, ever-changing emotions. We love helping teens gain the tools to cope with overwhelming feelings in healthy ways, so they can live lives congruent with their goals and values.
The foundation of counseling with teens especially is building a strong relationship between the client and therapist. Teens do not naturally share their deepest thoughts and feelings with a stranger. Much time is spent developing rapport — meeting them where they are so that they feel safe in the therapy room.
Teenagers often feel misunderstood. Counseling can help both parents and teens understand one another during this characteristically turbulent time.