COUNSELING FOR CHILDREN
I don’t remember things being this hard when I was a kid.
You have been noticing that your child’s feelings and behaviors are becoming “bigger” and seemingly out of proportion to the situations they are facing. Their anxious thoughts, low self esteem, and difficulty managing frustration are increasingly concerning. You worry that things will get even worse and you are not sure how to help your child get control of their emotions. You have tried different approaches (talking calmly, rewarding expected behaviors, consequences for behaviors of concern, etc.), but nothing seems to be working. It’s awful seeing your child struggle with this level of distress and dysregulation. You think to yourself, “I don’t remember things being this hard when I was a kid.”
The stress and overwhelm is real.
You recognize that your child is struggling and is having difficulty putting their feelings into words. You wonder if they even understand what’s going on behind their behaviors and feelings of anxiety and/or panic. It is clear that these behavioral outbursts are symptomatic of your child’s inner struggles. Despite your best efforts to understand what’s going on, you are often left feeling confused and helpless by the situation. Let’s face it, there’s really nothing worse than seeing your child suffer and not knowing how to help them feel better.
We can help - YOU and YOUR CHILD
We help children who are struggling with emotional or behavioral challenges learn how to better understand their emotions and ways to better manage when they are anxious, overwhelmed, stressed, angry, sad or frustrated. We provide supportive, solution-based teaching to help children discover that there are no “bad” feelings and that it’s best to recognize and embrace their feelings as a way to work through them. By naming emotions, children are empowered to deal with their feelings head on, rather than retreat from difficult emotions (such as anger, anxiety, or frustration). They learn how to recognize and talk about their feelings and to utilize coping strategies to effectively manage their feelings.
Several of the therapists at Farmington Valley Counseling Center have extensive experience working with children and parents. We are passionate about helping children learn how to regulate their emotions so they can feel more self-confident and happy. We also love helping parents to rediscover a sense of peace and well-being, knowing they and their children have the tools to successfully navigate challenging, emotionally-laden situations with ease.
