Child Therapy

What Is Pediatric Therapy?

Child counseling—also known as counseling for kids, children’s therapy, or pediatric counseling—is an evidence-based form of counseling designed to meet the needs of youths between 2 and 12 years of age. Those who conduct this type of work typically hold a license in mental health counseling with further study in child psychology. Because they understand how a child’s mind works, they’re able to break down problems in a way that younger people can understand. Since typical therapy is not always effective in these situations—because children often struggle to verbalize feelings or concepts—child counselors sometimes make use of play and art activities. Regardless of the age of the child, our goal at Miracle City Counseling is to not only get your child in a healthier state of mind but to build family cohesion, promote social functioning, and

How To Know If Your Child Needs Therapy

Now that you have a better understanding of what child therapy is, you’re probably wondering how to tell if your child needs it. Children are often seen as temperamental and can go from darling angels to throwing a tantrum in a minute flat. Some acting out is expected. But how do you know when there’s something more at work than the terrible twos? Child counselors recommend keeping an eye out for the following situations:

• Sudden issues in multiple life areas including academics, family relationships, and leisurely activities

• Phrases that express hopelessness or deep sadness

• An inability to sit still, complete tasks, or generally focus akin to his/her peers

• Getting in trouble in school

• Significant changes in sleep habits or appetites

• Self-destructive behaviors like hair or skin picking

• Excessive worrying about the future

• A withdrawal from activities or things that the child used to enjoy

• Significant and repeated difficulty separating from you in comfortable environments

We recommend, however, that parents trust their gut. You know your child best. So, if something doesn’t feel right, you need to trust that instinct. In moments you’re unsure, we suggest making an appointment anyway. It’s better to be told your child is healthy than it is to let a mental problem go untreated.

What Can a Child Therapist Help With?

As alluded to earlier, a child therapist aims to equip children with the tools they need to handle life’s stressors and improve their mental state. Below are a few situations where a child counselor may be useful:

• Dealing With Divorce: Roughly half of all children will see their parent’s marriage break up by the time they’re adults. Divorce doesn’t just affect you and your spouse; it impacts your children too. Living through a divorce Is a stressful time for a child and can take a toll on their physical and mental health. Multiple studies have found that divorce in childhood can result in lower academic performance, and an increased risk of mental disorders. Do note, however, that the opposite can result if a divorce happens in a home that is high-conflict and high-stress. Because of the emotional consequences of divorce on children-which include higher levels of guilt and lower confidence-we suggest making use of a child counselor throughout the process. This will give your child the ability to process things more healthily.

• Managing Change: COVID-19 brought so many changes. But other circumstances result in life change, too. Did you relocate recently? Or enroll your child in a new school? While it can be easy to forget, life changes affect children just as much (or more!) than you. The upheaval of their life can result in anxiety and heightened levels of stress. These will stick around for a while unless properly addressed. Child therapists help children adapt and focus on the positive benefits of the change.

• Understanding Mental Illnesses: Even adults struggle to understand mental illness and the impact it can have on a person. When a child is diagnosed with a condition, they sometimes struggle to comprehend the ins and outs of their illness. Whether they were diagnosed with ADHD, autism, depression, OCD, or anxiety, child counseling gives them a safe space to explore their disorder. We can also provide coping strategies to help mitigate the impact of their condition.

• Coping With Trauma: More than two-thirds of children have experienced at least one traumatic event before the age of sixteen. When children experience this type of trauma—whether it's abuse, a disaster, or death—they come out confused, scared, and upset. In some cases, they may develop PTSD or night terrors. Pediatric therapy lets children know that’s okay to talk about their experiences and equips them with coping strategies. Family therapy can also prove effective in traumatic circumstances.

• Behavioral Issues: Is your child acting up in school? Reacting sharply to minor situations? Arguing with everything you ask them to do? As a parent, it can be difficult to get your child to make progress in fixing these issues. Bringing in a neutral third party—like a child counselor—can give your child someone to talk to without fear of punishment or judgment. We’ll collaborate with you and your child about the root causes of these undesirable behaviors and get them back on the right track.

Now, be aware that the above list is by no means comprehensive. If anything about your child’s behavior worries you, finding the right child counselor in Titusville can help. To build off therapeutic successes, we involve parents and guardians in every stage of the process. We also offer you support and educational opportunities to better equip you to deal with the above issues.

What Techniques Do You Use?

The counselors at Miracle City Counseling tailor treatment to each individual child. Proper treatment is more like an orchestra than a kazoo—it's full of varied instruments and not reliant on a single note. When you come to us, you can expect a combination of the following to be deployed:

• Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT): A type of talk therapy used with people of all ages, CBT is what most people think of when they imagine a counselor’s office. But there’s a lot more to it than a simple conversation. The therapist will help your child take control of their lives and provide tangible solutions to his or her problems. CBT is more structured than other items in this list and often provides concrete cognitive skills, behavioral interventions, and coping skills for the child (and often the parent) to implement.

• Play Therapy: “Play is the language of children”. Play therapists use various techniques—including toys, puppets, board games, and storytelling—to encourage children to talk about their problems. This type of therapy is particularly effective for trauma, anxiety, and familial issues. While you might not think digging around in a toybox can help your child cope, play therapy is one of the most widely validated forms of children’s therapy.

• Art Activities: If you have ever watched an episode of Law and Order: SVU, you may have seen art activities at use in a therapeutic setting. Much like play, art can help children better express themselves. During a session, we might ask them to draw a family picture or draw an image that expresses how they are feeling. This gives us some insight into where their mind is at. Other, more directed activities, allow the counselor to illustrate concepts and provide context for emotional coping.

• Behavior Management: This type of therapy sets out to reinforce positive behaviors and reduce negative ones. It also provides caregivers with the tools necessary to keep things progressing even after therapy ends. A behavior plan is sometimes used to help the parent and child collaborate to target behaviors, their rewards or consequences, and monitor progress. All hail the sticker chart!

• Coping Skills Rehearsal: It’s one thing for someone to tell you how somersaults work and another to try doing one. The same can be said of coping skills. That’s why we practice these techniques with our younger patients. Your child’s counselor will ask them to imagine a particular scenario or situation that would require him or her to use their coping skills. In the beginning, the therapist will walk them through the process. As time goes on, they’ll allow for more self-guidance. This helps your child master these techniques in a safe, supportive atmosphere.

Please note that the types of therapy used may vary between each of our child counselors. All of them bring different skillsets to the table and are equipped to help your child. Rest assured that we do everything we can to ensure your therapist’s abilities match your child’s needs.

“I tailor treatment to the individual child using a combination of techniques including Cognitive Behavior Therapy, play therapy, art activities, behavior management, and rehearsal of coping skills.”

Choose a Child Counselor That Works in the Titusville Area

If your child has difficulty dealing with their emotions or navigating a recent change, it’s okay to reach out for help. Acknowledging that there are some problems that you cannot fix is an important part of parenting. While you may not be able to provide therapy to your child, you can find a local pediatric therapist that can help. Since sessions often occur weekly, being close to home can mean the difference between attending consistently or not. Give us a call at (407)917-6828 to learn more about our child counseling services.

Child Therapist FAQs

What Does Miracle City Counseling’s Child Therapy Process Look Like?

The first appointment at Miracle City Counseling will be parent-only. During the intake process, we will gather the child’s history, discuss the presenting problem, and develop a preliminary diagnosis and treatment plan. This appointment will also introduce you to our processes and help you determine if Miracle City Counseling is a good fit for you and your family. At this point, we will answer any questions and schedule recurring appointments. Next, it’s your child’s turn to meet his/her therapist. This therapy sessions typically takes between 45 minutes and an hour. At the outset, most or all of this time will be spent with the child developing trust and building motivation to work toward goals.

Where Do Miracle City Counseling’s Clients Come From?

Our clients come from communities all around Titusville including Port St. John, Cape Canaveral, Christmas, Mims, Cocoa, and Viera. 

Which of Your Therapists Provide Child Counseling Services?

Kailey and Gerard both work with children. Click on their names to read their profiles and explore their qualifications. You can even contact them or request an appointment right from their page.

Can I Attend the Session With My Child?

Most children can navigate their sessions on their own.  In most cases, that’s the best way for a child to work through his or her issues. If your child has severe separation issues, you may be invited to join the first session or part of the first session. After that, we usually prefer the child attend sessions on their own.  At times, we may invite you as the parent to provide a private update at the beginning of the session, and then invite the child in for the rest.

Is There Anything I  Can Do to Help My Child Get the Most Out of Therapy?

As a parent, there’s a lot you can do to help your child. While we’ll sometimes give you specific training or support, we recommend that you:

• Be consistent and ensure your child gets to their sessions regularly and on time

• Don’t pressure your child to tell you how therapy went. Allow your child to share at their own pace and maintain a sense of privacy around their sessions. Your child’s therapist will share important items with you. After a session, it’s great to say, “If there’s anything you want to talk about, I am ready to listen.” and leave it up to the child to discuss anything on their mind.

• By extension, don’t coach your child about what they should and shouldn’t say during therapy.

• Provide your child with a snack and toileting time before the start of the session. This allows them to better focus during the session.

• Before a session, you can send an email or request a few minutes of the session to provide any significant updates like major outbursts, family changes, or negative or positive observations.

What Insurances Do You Take

Miracle City Counseling takes a variety of Florida-based insurance plans for our child counseling services. Accepted plans include Cigna, Florida Health Care Plans, United/Optum, Tricare, Parrish Health Network, and Health Plans, Inc.

How Long Will My Child Need Therapy?

The length of treatment varies depending on the child, though it’s often less than twelve months. Some children need a few sessions to work through a minor adjustment. Others will be with us longer. We promise we’ll keep you informed of your child’s progress and develop a plan to help your child meet their therapy goals.