Therapy for Kids and Teens

Counseling for Kids and Teens

You’ve tried so hard to protect your child or teen from the world - but sometimes the world comes busting in anyways. Your kid’s been through it, and they’re struggling as a result. You just want to help, but you can’t seem to figure out the best way. You might even be trying to heal yourself - and having difficulty being there for your kid.

Something that wouldn’t faze an adult might rock a child’s world. As kids and teens grow and develop, everything around them is changing - their life, their friends, their school, even their own bodies - which make traumatic events that much more intense. Anything can be traumatic to a child - a divorce, a new sibling, a recent move - and therapy can help your child adjust to these changes, as well as help you understand how best to help them.

You might be thinking that you’re a bad parent for needing help. Nothing can be further from the truth - just by reading this, it’s clear that you love and care for your child. Think of it this way - if your child had heart palpitations, would you wing it and try OTC drugs - or call a cardiologist? A therapist is a specialized professional, just like a cardiologist, and can help you make sure you’re helping your child the right way.

Our approach to therapy for children and adolescents

Kids and teens are unique, just like adults - therapists at Metamorphosis will tailor their interventions to your child and your family dynamic, to address your specific needs. In your child or teen’s first few sessions, we will go over both your concerns and the concerns of your child or teen, so that we can get a full picture and determine how we can help.

Kids and teens need to be comfortable in therapy, just like adults. Your child’s first few sessions with us can include a parent or guardian, or just your kid or teen alone - whatever is going to help them to feel more comfortable in the therapy room. As they get to know their therapist and feel comfortable, we recommend that they meet with their therapist alone anytime that they wish to, as kids and teens are often more open when they can speak freely. That being said, we recognize that you’re concerned about your kid - it’s our promise that you will always be informed if we are worried about your child’s safety, or feel you need to know something important.

We are here to help your kids - so we will always put them first. We believe strongly that involving the therapist in any legal proceedings, such as divorce or custody, undermines the child’s well-being - therefore, we will not involve ourselves in these proceedings. Should the parents of any child or teen we see be separated or divorced, we will ask that both parents sign our intake paperwork, and that any legal custody orders be provided before treatment can be provided.

Therapy for Kids and Teens - FAQs

What is the most effective therapy for children?

There is no one therapy that works best for children - however, there are some therapies that are often recommended (and we provide at Metamorphosis!):

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT)
Progressive counting
Supportive therapy

it’s best to see a therapist who specializes in working with children, as kids are growing and learning at the same time that they are healing!

What is the youngest age for therapy?

The youngest age we work with at Metamorphosis is five years of age. Should your child be younger than this and require assistance, we recommend speaking to their pediatrician, talking to their teacher, or looking for Early Intervention services, like those listed below:

Is it good for kids to go to therapy?

Of course! Kids often react strongly to changes in their environment - they crave structure, and when things are changing (even if for the better), they often engage in bad habits to try to get their needs met. This can lead to problems at school, at home, with friends, or within the family.

Bringing your child to therapy - whether something major has happened, is about to happen, or might happen - can only help.

When should you put your child in therapy?

If your child or adolescent is dealing with a problem that they can’t seem to handle on their own, or if that problem is affecting other aspects of their life, like school, home relationships, friendships, or work - it’s a good time to put them in therapy. Kids don’t come with a manual, and every kid reacts to major life changes differently. If you’re reading this - it’s probably time already. Text “therapy for kids” to 814-273-6270 to get started!

Why shouldn’t you force your child to go to therapy?

Therapy for anyone (not just kids) works best whenever a client is ready and willing to make change. Therapy is a journey, and being dragged along the road isn’t good! If a child is forced to attend therapy, they may see therapy in a negative light, and it may make them hesitant to reach out to a therapist if they need one in the future.

If you’re unsure if your child wants to go to therapy, text us for an assessment. Our therapists will walk you through the process, and provide recommendations if they think your child isn’t ready.