Category: Child & Parent Therapy

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Useful Tips On How To Convince Your Child To Undergo Counseling

Source: stepbystepcounselingllc.com

Booking your child’s first ever appointment with a therapist is pretty daunting, right? Now imagine what it’s like for your kid. They might feel confused, scared, and even angry at you for doing it without their consent.  While it’s understandable that you’re only doing it for their wellness, it is also vital that you can explain to them what counseling is for and why they need to go through it. Lucky for you, there are several tips you can follow to convince your child to undergo counseling. Written below are some of the things that you can do to help your kid see that counseling is a good thing. On that note, do read on.

Explain What A Counselor Is 

One of the easiest ways to explain what counseling is to your child is to explain what a counselor does. Tell your kid that counselors are like their grown-up friends that they can confide in when they get sad or when they feel like they are stuck. The same thing goes if you have a teenager in the house that needs help. Explain that these people are there to help and not to judge them for the thoughts inside their head or for the things they did. Tell them that the counselor can help them overcome what’s making them suffer.

Source: huffingtonpost.com

Tell Them That It’s Okay To Take Things Slowly 

One of the things that most kids are afraid of when it comes to meeting with counselors is the fact that they have to share personal stuff about them even though it makes themuncomfortable. Tell your child that they can choose not to talk with the counselor during their first meeting.  They can just sit there and play cards, try other games,or just read a book. There are therapists out there who can use that time of being ignored to observe how kids move and react to things. Tell them its okay to be reluctant at first, but don’t forget to encourage them to make a connection with the therapist too so that they can open up when the time is right. 

 

Be Open And Explain To Them Why They Need To Do It 

Sometimes it’s better to stop sugarcoating things and just tell your kid why you’re worried. Yes, things might become harder because of that but sometimes being open is what allows you to finally reach out to them and make them see why you had to ask for a professional’s help. Tell them why you’re worried but do your best not to make it sound like you’re judging them.  The last thing you want is to make them feel like it’stheir fault. 

 

These are just some of the many things you can tell your kid when you want to convince them to undergo counseling. Of course, it won’t be easy, but you have to talk to him.  You have to explain why it’s a good thing and reassure him that you will be there all the way. Check out BetterHelp for more info about the importance of counseling.

 

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How To Choose The Perfect Therapist For Your Child

Source: sagetherapycenter.com

Seeking help for your child’s mental health is something that you should take seriously. You must be able to find the right therapist that can help your kid cope with whatever it is that’s making things difficult for him. Unfortunately, finding the perfect licensed professional that your child can get along with is pretty hard and daunting especially if you’re doing it for the first time.

Luckily, some ways can show you how to do it, and we have them right here. Here’s some information that BetterHelp had compiled for you so you know more about the kind of therapist you should consider for your child. 

Do Your Research 

The first step you should consider is doing a personal research. You can either ask the school’s counselor or any of your family and friends for recommendations. In addition to that, you can also do some research online. Find as many child therapists around your area as possible and make a list of candidates out of them. 

Gather Information 

The next thing you should do is to get relevant information about the candidates on your list. You can contact them and ask questions that you think can help in finding the appropriate therapist that suits the needs of your child. Ask about their rate, their license, their accreditations and insurance, your insurance, and if they could provide reviews from past patients. Then you can start trimming your list by eliminating those you think are unqualified. 

Source: napervillepsych.com

Ask Them Questions 

You can also ask your potential child therapists things about how they’re going to help your child. Question them about similar experiences in the pasts, their philosophy and training methods, the way they treat their patients, how they form a connection with their patients, and how you can be involved with the whole thing. These questions are important because you need to make your child feel as comfortable as possible when it comes to talking to a stranger about his problems.It is also another opportunity for you to find which therapists will be good for your child and which ones aren’t. After asking them questions, make sure to trim your list down to the best three candidates.

Set Up A Consultation 

Gather everything you know about your child’s condition and visit each of the candidates. Make sure you were able to compile all of your concerns about your kid and ask those therapists what they can do to help. It is also your chance to get a feel of what each therapy session would be. After paying all of them a visit, then it would be the time to choose which of them is more capable of delivering quality services. 

These steps should allow you to pick the right therapist for your child.  But if things don’t go as expected then don’t worry because sometimes it’s more of a trial and error thing.  Don’t throw away your list of candidates in case you’ll need to contact the others. Just don’t give up and you’ll find the right therapist that can help your child.

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Effective Communication Between Parents And Children Made Easy

Source: rubicon.dk

There are many kinds of relationships existing that people develop over a span of time.But, the most important is the relationship between the parent and child. It is qualitatively different and the most crucial.

There are some characteristics of a healthy parent-child relationship. These areflexibility, connection, appropriate boundaries, open communication,and discipline. In this article, we will be focusing on communication.

What is Communication?

Source: moneywise.co.uk

Communication is the act of transferring information from one person to another. It can be verbal or non-verbal, positive or negative, effective or ineffective. It is essential for the parents to communicate effectively with their children. 

Open communication between a parent and child can benefit not only the child but the other family members as well. This will lead to a happier and healthier relationship between both parties, prevent problems that may arise in the future or minimize troubles. 

On the other hand, ineffective or harmful communications between children and parents can lead children to believe that they are unimportant or misunderstood. Self-esteem tends to get low,andthey might have a hard time making decisions for themselves because nobody taught them how to. 

Most of the children who grew up without proper communication see their parents as untrustworthy. They just prefer to keep the problems to themselves or share to their so-called friends because they are afraid that their parents might not support or disapprove them. 

Hence, it is vital for the parents to set up an open and effective communication with their children while they are still young. 

Parents’ Perspective

Source: doctoranddad.com

Raising a child is never an easy thing,but through open communication, you can raise your child effectively and prevent troubles that may arise within the family that may start from your child. A parent should communicate at their children’s level. A parent should only use words or language that are appropriate only to their child’s age.  Never shout at themand say vulgar words.

A parent should be a good listener too. Listening is a skill that must be learned and practiced. Parents must listen to what their children say or feel, whether how good or bad they are. You can show that you listen to your children by maintaining eye contact, eliminating distractions,listening with a closed mouth, asking questions and letting your children know that you are listening. 

Regular family meetings or gatherings are also essential. Family meetings can be done once a week or whenever there must be discussed.  It is a valuable tool to fix family issues and talk about problems. Always let your child be awareof these kinds of happenings,and he/she will learn how to open up with his/her family as the time pass by. 

A parent should try to make explanations clear. It is normal for the children to ask questions because they have little knowledge of the world. Use these questionsas anopportunity to teach and educate them about everything under the sun even though you are not comfortable discussing some things with them. 

A parent should always try to keep the conversation short and simple. The younger the children, the more difficult it is for them to understand. Parents should know if their children cannot understand anymore what they are saying, so it’s best to state the ideas little by little. They should also know when to back off sometimes.

Parents should bear in mind that effective communication will never turn out exactly as what you always wanted. Remember that patience with effort is the key. This will be hard at first,but with a lot of hardwork and practice, you will be achieving the healthy, happy and confident parent-child relationship.

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Why It Helps To Rely On Family Members When Depressed

Source: lg4isolation.ca

You may not completely cure a family member who is depressed, but you can be the light of their darkness, and you both know it. Be the shoulder to lean on, and you may just save them. 

 

When the going gets tough, you should look to your family members for support. Depression isn’t to be taken lightly. If you don’t want to seek treatment, then at least seek comfort. 

 

It is said that depression is like “living in a body that fights to survive, with a mind that tries to die.” And there is no exaggeration in that. No matter the age, race, gender, or social status in life, once depression hits you, you’ll find yourself struggling to be free from a slump. 

 

Depression is a serious medical illness that negatively affects your feelings, thoughts, and actions. It is a major disorder that has become way too common in today’s day and age. Depressed people tend to have feelings of sadness, grief, anxiety, and loss of interest in different activities. 

 

The illness is treatable, and it helps if you have your family members to count on. Here are reasons why: 

 

 1. They are your family.

You were born to live and endure life together. It helps to remember that even if you’re shy or you assume, they’d treat you indifferently after saying you are depressed, you still have to do it. Why? There’s no harm in trying. 

 

You are not being encouraged to open up right away. Of course, you have to take your time and see when is the right time to pour out your feelings. It is better to let someone know so you can get help, or at least have someone to rant to. 

 

However, not everyone has the same “supportive,” and “kind” family. If you really can’t be comfortable sharing your depression story with your friend, have a reliable friend, or a trusty old workmate who you think would be of help. 

 

 2. They can help you get help.

Source:theprayingwoman.com

Literally. Since you are living (for the most part) with your family members, then they can encourage you to seek treatment. They can even accompany you to an appointment with different healthcare specialists. While it may seem a bit annoying (and forgive them for trying because they only want what’s best for you), they will not give up, especially as they see you everyday. 

 

 3. They make you smile.

Source: runestadfinancial.com

Admit it. Even if your little brother is annoying as hell, you still laugh and smile if you see him doing weird things at home. That counts. Every bit of happiness counts, because it battles your depression. If you are alone, you won’t get to see them being all silly. Rely on these small, and beautiful things. It wouldn’t cure your depression, but it will be the light ofa dark day.

 

 4. They will be the reminder that it too shall pass.

Sometimes, even family members don’t know the right words to say or the proper actions to act upon to a depressed person. They don’t understand you fully, yes. But they listen to you. They are the reminder that your depression will get better someday. They might not be depressed, but they’ve already faced many noteworthy challenges that might give you strength. 

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The Basics of PCIT and How it Can Benefit your Family

Every parent wants to raise their child right. Unfortunately, it’s not always an easy task. Each child is different, and there’s no clear-cut way to raise them. You could go through dozens of parenting books, but you’ll find that it doesn’t have all the answers. Lucky for us, psychology has come with new programs to raising kids. One approach that’s gaining more recognition today is parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT). Here are the facts to know about the program.

What is PCIT?

Source: childtherapynow.com

Developed in the early 1970s by Dr. Sheila M. Eyberg, PCIT is a new form of treatment.

It combines ideas from play therapy and behavioral therapy. This form of treatment focuses on how parents or caregivers interact with children, as guided by a trained coach. It aims to improve their relationship with each other through PCIT techniques. PCIT is directed towards turning negative behavior into more positive, wanted behavior.

Who Can Benefit from It?

Newly developed, the treatment is primarily for children of ages 2 to 7. Moreover, PCIT was meant to aid parents in raising children with disruptive behavioral and emotional disorders. This includes children who experienced abuse and trauma in the past. It addresses many behavioral issues such as non-compliance, defiance and aggression.

 

PCIT has been found to be especially useful and productive in other situations. This form of therapy has been used when dealing with children on the autism spectrum. Likewise, it has been used with foster and adoptive families as well as at-risk families.

How is PCIT Done?

Source: washingtonpost.com

A basic PCIT program has two stages: relationship enhancement and discipline training.

 

First, relationship enhancement is done through child-directed interaction (CDI). Under this stage, parents are coached into developing a healthy and nurturing bond with their children. This is typically done by having the parents play and interact with their children in a controlled playroom while being observed by and guided by a coach.

 

Under this stage, parents are taught the acronym PRIDE, which stands for praise, reflect, imitate, describe and enjoyment. During their playtime with their children, they are meant to praise positive behavior and reflect on what their children say. Additionally, they should imitate their children’s positive behavior to show approval of it. Describing what their children are doing helps build vocabulary in the child and shows that parents are paying attention. Parents are also tasked to show enjoyment and enthusiasm for their children’s activities.

 

Second, discipline training is aparent-directed interaction (PDI). This time, the parent takes the lead when it comes to discipline. Under this stage, parents are to give easy-to-understand instructions to their children. They provide specific and positively-expressed commands. When the children show compliance, they are given praise. Should they prove noncompliance, the children are given a time-out, teaching the difference between correct and incorrect behavior.

How Can it Help my Family?

Source: pbhsi.com

Every child experiences unwanted behavior at some point. Some parents may find it easier to correct their children than others. Typically used for families with children exhibiting behavioral and emotional disorders, you may see that PCIT can still benefit your family.

 

You may choose to go through formal treatment, where you will be coached. Conversely, you may only read up on PCIT and apply its techniques when raising your children. You’ll find that the program gives many perspectives on parenting. Better connections are made between the parent and child, creating a closer relationship that helps you raise your child right.

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Raising Better With Interactive Therapies

Having a child is not so difficult, but raising one is an entirely different story. What more if you have to raise two, right? In the era where technology plays a significant role in making or breaking a child’s personality development, parents should be more aware of ways or processes to adapt to counter these distractions.

Source: cdn-images-1.medium.com

Parents sometimes use gadgets to help them with taking care of the children. It’s easy for them just to open a tablet or a phone and let the child play programs or applications that could entertain them. It’s true that it is one way of keeping a child busy, but the question —Is it good for her? Is it good for you? Is it the best way?

 

Health in Gadgets

 

“Health is Wealth,” they say. Eye-problem, obesity, autism, lack of motor skills and problematic behaviors? Do these health problems look familiar to your child? A survey, National Survey of Children’s Health, produced primarily by the Maternal and Child Health Bureau of the Health Resources and Services Administration showed that these health problems are more prominent for children who use gadgets more often.

 

How do you get the best of both worlds? How do you manage your child, his or her personality without having to sacrifice play time? Well, Parent-Children Therapy is the best way to go!

 

Parent-Children Interactive Therapy

 

A lot of parents have a hard time with juggling career and raising a child that is why certain organizations started to conduct and create therapies which combine play and behavioral therapies between young children and their parents.

 

These therapies teach the parents ways and enhance their skills to counter mental disorders, personality, developmental difficulties and more. These techniques are mostly advised to parents who have advanced children aging 2 to 7 years of age.

 

The Process

Source: westchesterparentingcenter.com

Usually, what happens in Parent-Children therapy is that the child and the parent are being placedin a private room with a one-way mirror where a therapist can observe their behaviors and coach the parent on what to do with the use of an earphone. They supervise and study the relationship that needs to be built between parent and child.

 

Coaches tend to encourage the parents toavoid the use of negative language while communicating with the child.Instead, parents should focus more onpraising their kids just like what happens in the rewards system. They are equipped with strategies on how to help increase children’s vocabulary and emphasize the idea that children tend to imitate their behavior.

 

Effect of Interactive Therapies

 

Because of what parents learn from these, they become more open,and they now choose to create a closer relationship with their children. This affects the child also in a more positive way and helps them unfold better personality developments. How? They feel more loved.

 

Everybody wants to feel loved. Especially children, they may be young,but their feelings are very controlling. Avoidance of any negative or harmful actions toward your kid will soon have a significant impact and would lead encourage the child to become more of a better person.

 

Similar to anything, practice makes perfect. The continuing practice of these therapies creates a better environment for parent and children. They both become better.Further, they grow together and understand more about each other.

 

Where to Find a Therapist

Source: kidsspeak.info

If you need help, there are therapists accredited by PCIT International,and they are more willing to help. It is a licensed mental service provider that can help you find the best therapist anywhere you may be,and that could suit you without sacrificing your comfortability!

 

Do not take any chances with your child. Remember that your kid needs the best. Your loving child needs you. 

 

Encouragement and excellent communication are a lot better than any gadget or technology this world has to offer. Act now and see the results as soon as possible.

 

Be better. Be wiser. Bring out the hero your child has seen inside you.