Therapy for Children in Portage/Kalamazoo, Michigan

Here’s the reality: if you suspect your child would benefit from speaking with a professional, you’re probably right.

After all, as the parent, you know your child best, and if you think something isn’t quite right, it’s a good idea to follow your gut. If it turns out everything is fine, no harm done. And if it turns out your child did need professional intervention, it’s better to intervene sooner rather than later.

Maybe you’re wondering why a child would need therapy—after all, what have they got to be stressed about? You might be surprised. Young people today experience many of the same stressors as adults do, but since they are not fully mature, they experience those stressors as much more immediate.

Here’s the thing: kids change as they go through the stages and phases of growing up. It’s normal. But life isn’t the way it was back in the 70s or 80s. Kids are exposed to adult concepts much earlier, they have nearly unfettered access to the internet—and the potential abuse that entails—and they’re more aware of the concerns of adults than they would have been in years past. That awareness may appear as “maturity,” but it can also create stress and confusion—and a professional Thriveworks Portage/Kalamazoo child therapist can help. Check out this article to learn more about what child psychologists do.

Children have many reasons to need to talk with a professional, including:

• Stress: Stress is usually temporary, caused by an upcoming test or a deadline of some kind. If it goes on for a longer period of time, it can morph into anxiety. Learning healthy methods for coping with stress is important to preventing anxiety and maintaining a healthy outlook.
• Anxiety: Anxiety is the presence of stress even when there’s nothing specific to be stressed about. Chronic anxiety can even impact physical health, and so therapy for children is important to maintaining their health across the board. Anxiety can also be caused by a chemical imbalance.
• Depression: Depression can be chemical, but it can also be situational. In either case, a trusted professional can help the child improve their outlook in a healthy way.
• Self-Esteem: Being a child or teenager is hard. Peers can be very critical of each other, often causing the young person to become self-critical. A neutral third party is often exactly who the young person wants to hear from—instead of parents, who the child may perceive as biased rather than honest.

Those aren’t the only reasons a child or adolescent might need help. Are you noticing any behavioral changes in your child, particularly negative ones? Have they stopped communicating as openly? What about their friendships?

Has your child’s teacher mentioned any behavioral, social, or academic concerns? Has your child experienced a trauma?

If any of the above questions resonate with you, and if you feel the challenges they are facing are having, or might soon have, a negative impact, it’s time to contact a therapist.

Therapy for Children in Portage/Kalamazoo

The main difference in the therapeutic approach to therapy for children is simple: child therapists will talk to the child in an age-appropriate way. In some cases, play therapy may be used, or the child may be encouraged to draw or write.

If something isn’t quite right with your child, even if you aren’t sure what, call a Thriveworks Portage/Kalamazoo child psychologist. Our trained professionals specialize in diagnosing and treating children, and they do so in a manner that’s appropriate to the needs and age of the individual child.

Call us. We’re friendly, we promise—and our primary goal is to help your child feel better, get back on track, and live their best life.