Approaches to Counseling Children and Teens
for Mental and Behavioral Health Issues

At Watershed Counseling, we teach skills to children and adolescents that can help them cope with issues they experience in childhood and continue encountering through adulthood.

Problems children and adolescents experience must be seen and heard in order to find healing.

It is important that the problems children and adolescents experience are seen and heard so that they may find healing and experience more joy as they grow up to be successful and emotionally mature adults. 

Approaches to Counseling

Children

Some approaches we use to counsel children include play therapy, behavior therapy, and relaxation. We also use creative approaches like art, music, and writing. These methods can help a child process their issues in different ways than traditional talk therapy.

Adolescents

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, creative approaches, motivational interviewing, and mindfulness are often used to help teenagers with their cognitive, emotional, and social problems. Cognitive Behavioral therapy seeks to help these teens understand the the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. It also helps them identify unhealthy thoughts in order to challenge and change them.

Does Your Child Need Help?

If your notice the below symptoms of depression and anxiety in your child or teenager, they may benefit from the therapeutic approaches we use at Watershed counseling.

 Symptoms of Depression:

  • Irritability and anger
  • Continuous feelings of sadness and hopelessness
  • Social withdrawal
  • Increased sensitivity to rejection
  • Changes in appetite — either increased or decreased
  • Changes in sleep — sleeplessness or excessive sleep
  • Vocal outbursts or crying
  • Difficulty concentrating

Symptoms of Anxiety:

  • Excessive worry most days of the week, for weeks on end
  • Trouble sleeping at night or sleepiness during the day
  • Restlessness or fatigue during waking hours
  • Getting upset easily
  • Trouble concentrating
  • Irritability

Therapists at Watershed Counseling are trained in pediatric and adolescent counseling, and they can help your family. If you are having issues with your child or teenager, please click below to schedule an appointment with us.