Child & Adolescent Outpatient Counseling
Childhood and adolescence is a time of rapid growth and change. This can be an exciting time of self-discovery, when a child moves toward the independence of adulthood, but it can also be a time when emotions and decisions can feel overwhelming.
Outpatient counseling can help children and their families work through some of the challenges of development. Reasons for seeking counseling can include depression, impulsivity, aggression, decision-making, trauma, or substance use. Anything that interferes with a youth's ability to cope and thrive could be a reason to attend counseling.
In most cases, counseling is short-term, family-centered, and focused on improving the child or teen's resilience and daily functioning.
At the first meeting with the counselor, the child and family participate in developing treatment goals for their unique situation. The counselor will provide support, education, and encouragement to help the child and family achieve positive gains through therapy.
All of our counselors practice trauma-informed care, meaning that services match the needs and readiness of the individual receiving services. Services are strength-based, building on positive skills and family capabilities. Treatment approaches may include cognitive behavioral therapy (combining practice and values exploration), eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) to address trauma, expressive therapy (using art or play to allow the child to explore feelings and creatively express thoughts), and family therapy (exploring family systems and expectations). For adolescents involved in substance use, sessions take a co-occurring approach, working simultaneously to address mild to moderate substance misuse and mental health issues.
