Families come in all sorts of shapes and sizes leading to various dynamics. While many of us strive for peace and harmony in our family, disagreements and conflict are common. Sometimes we get along just fine, and other times we question how we’ll make it through! We may experience challenges in the relationship we have with our child/teen, observe them struggle with other family members, recognize that situations within our family and household are causing them distress.
Children and adolescents have little control over their homelife and parental decisions. With all the changes that occur around them, it can leave them feeling scared, sad, and a lot of times angry.
Family concerns or transitions that impact children/teens may include:
- Marital issues and conflict
- Discord or hostility among family members
- Domestic or intimate partner violence
- Separation, Divorce, Marriage
- Blended families or households
- New sibling(s)
- Foster/adoption transitions
- Absent caregiver or abandonment
- Caregiver job loss or change
- Relocation or immigration status
- Financial instability
- Change in school
- Death of a family member
- Family members living with health conditions including chronic or terminal illnesses, sudden injuries, mental health concerns, complications in diagnoses
- Family member(s) with an addiction or abusing substances
If any of the above describes a situation your child or teen is experiencing, counseling may be beneficial. In counseling, your child or teen is afforded a confidential space to speak freely and process their feelings. Children and young people are often looking for someone to just listen and validate them, which is what our professional counselors can do. Through a safe and non-judgmental approach, we can assist them through these challenging transitions and circumstances. We can also help your child or adolescent develop coping skills and self-soothing strategies to better manage their heavy feelings.
If you believe your child or teen is struggling with changes within the family or household and needs support, our affiliated professional counselors are here to help. They practice child-friendly evidence-based techniques such as play, art, and sandtray in their therapy. They may also utilize Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) and Solution-Focused approaches. Give our office a call today and let’s schedule a time to talk.