Children and Adolescents

As parents, we want the best for our children, so we may feel confused when our child is behaving differently, acting out, or not living up to their potential.  We may hear messages from our society that we need to "solve" the child's problematic behavior with punishment without considering what's underneath and how their environment plays a role in it.  The reality is that connection and cooperation are at the heart of healthy families and healthy children.  

When trauma occurs, counseling intervention can become even more important for the child and the family.  Trauma can include "big T" traumas, like a national disaster or car accident, but often are "little T" traumas.  These little t trauma events are often relational in nature, including things like divorce, conflict in the family, betrayal by a friend, bullying, childhood medical issues (hospitalizations and surgeries as a result of premature birth, childhood illness, congenital birth defects, pediatric cancer, etc.), and more.  These traumas, while not what our society typically views as trauma, can have a long lasting disruption on our ability to feel safe, loved, calm, and connect with others.  Addressing these is important to appropriate development for the child and connection in the family.
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Children and adolescents can experience a wide range of difficulties from behavioral issues to attention problems, eating disorders to depression and anxiety, school challenges, self-esteem, and more.  I work with the child, parents, and siblings as appropriate to build resiliency, decrease shame, and navigate the challenges of growing up by using SE, NARM, art and play therapy techniques, etc. all within the viewpoint of the family system.  

Resources:

Positive Discipline 

The Whole Brain Child - Understanding Your Child's Developing Mind (Dan Siegel)

​How to Be a Resilient Parent

​Survival in School