Childhood and adolescence are periods of constant change and development. Arguments with parents, struggles at school, social drama, and the conflicting drives to stand out and fit in can be as puzzling to teens and children as to the adults who love them. A private place to talk and think can help them navigate the intensity and unpredictability of these years.
Just like adults, children and adolescents can use individual therapy to develop better relationships with themselves, their families, and their peers. They can benefit from the accepting atmosphere of therapy and learn to appreciate their strengths, take responsibility for their actions, and develop mental skills that will serve them well throughout their lives. The structure may be somewhat different than adult therapy, however. A child's caretaker(s) generally meet with me for a full session before my first session with the child, and may be involved in the treatment in various ways.
With younger children, individual work is largely indirect and play-based, designed to illuminate their way of thinking and increase their sense of safety and emotional flexibility. I also spend a significant amount of time with the parents, helping them to understand their child's feelings, cope with their own parenting struggles, and develop effective behavioral plans. Often, I spend more time interacting with parents, or with the parents and child together, than with a young child alone. For older children and teenagers, confidentiality is increasingly important and parents tend to have a more limited role in therapy. I may speak with parents periodically about how they can support their child in making changes, or hold several joint parent-teenager sessions, but my adolescent clients are generally well equipped to take primary charge of their own progress.
Please contact me at dr.rachel.waxman@gmail.com if you would like me to join you and your child in furthering their growth.