Thriveworks in Beverly Hills, MI for Child and Adolescent Therapy/Counseling

From birth to adolescence, children will experience changes in their moods and behaviors. While some of the changes are predictable, they may be challenging. Most of these changes are completely normal in child development. Generally, as long as children behave in ways that are consistent with their age range, the challenges they encounter should not cause concern.

Many theories exist that address the developmental phases children experience, and sometimes it is hard for parents and caregivers to understand them. Erik Erikson, an influential developmental psychologist, outlined the stages of psychosocial development from birth to adulthood, breaking them down to eight stages in life. Five of the stages take place in childhood and adolescence. When there are signs that something is getting in the way of a child’s contentment and ability to live in harmony with the family, at school or with their friends, parents find it hard to witness their child enduring difficulties.

When you have a question about your child’s behavior, it is a good idea to talk with a therapist or counselor. Thriveworks in Beverly Hills, MI therapists are professionally licensed and have years of experience in the field. They will work with you and your child to identify the issues and move toward living a happier, more fulfilling life.

Stages of Development From Birth to Adolescence

With five of the stages of psychosocial development occurring from birth to adulthood, parents want to be able to find out if their children are experiencing difficulties at home, at school and with their friends. Counseling is beneficial for children—they can work with therapists to pinpoint the reasons for their difficulties, work on the ways to find assistance from parents and teachers and be able to communicate their feelings in reasonable ways.

Nearly everybody with a child who has gone through the teenage stage of life can tell you that it is like a rollercoaster—the ups and downs in a teenager’s life can be a rough ride for both the individual and family members. While they’re at the crossroads of being a child and an adult, they face many issues. It’s important for parents to know how to identify what is considered normal behavior. On top of that, teenagers are faced with many things at this stage in their lives, such as excelling in their classes to be able to get into college, choosing a career, peer pressure and more.

The following are the stages that children and adolescents experience from infancy to adolescence.

• Infancy-Trust vs. Mistrust. The first stage of human development is where infants explore their surroundings and learn if their environment is safe. Infants need a lot of attention and comfort from their parents in order to be able to trust.
• Early Childhood—Autonomy vs. Shame and Doubt. The next stage of development is when children find their independence. They start to make choices and find out what they like and don’t like. When people say their child is going through “the terrible twos,” they are most likely referring to the tantrums and other behaviors that are common for this stage. Children also begin to find what interests them. These are the years when they have feelings of shame and doubt.
• Preschool Years—Initiative vs. Guilt. Children find out about emotions in these years and are curious about everything around them. In addition, their imaginations are well at work. They still display temper tantrums and can be stubborn, as well as show their own will.
• School Age—Competence vs. Inferiority. This is the age when children make friends and learn about relationships. They also want to do well in school. If there are problems with friendships or if a child doesn’t do well in school, he may experience struggles with conditions, such as depression and anxiety.
• Adolescence—Identity vs. Role Confusion. Adolescents become independent at this stage. With the onset of puberty, they will experience physical changes and emotional “ups and downs.” These are the years when parents and adolescents may encounter difficulties in their relationships. Sometimes adolescents want to try out new identities and behaviors that can lead to struggles at school and at home.

Child/Adolescent Therapy Techniques

At Thriveworks in Beverly Hills, MI the professional therapists and counselors are experienced in working with children and family members. Therapists will examine the issues and work with the child to be able to build stronger communication skills and sturdy relationships with friends and family members.

There are many ways that the therapists at Thriveworks in Beverly Hills, MI work with children and adolescents in therapy, including play, family, traditional talk, art and narrative.

Select Thriveworks in Beverly Hills, MI for Child and Adolescent Therapy

At Thriveworks in Beverly Hills, MI the professionally licensed therapists and counselors will work with children, adolescents and their parents to examine their concerns, find strategies to help overcome difficulties and map out a plan to find happiness in their lives. Thriveworks in Beverly Hills, MI won’t place you on a waiting list. Appointments are available in 24 hours for most new clients.