Counseling for Children

Parents often wrestle with the decision to seek counseling for their child. They wonder whether it is really necessary or if it can help. Unfortunately, without proper understanding about how children are affected by stress and trauma, many parents opt out of getting their child the help they need. If you’re unsure about counseling for your child, our Christian counselors are happy to talk with you about your unique situation.

Common reasons for Christian counseling for children include:

• Family transitions
• Divorce
• Health issues
• Academic issues
• ADHD
• Autism disorders
• Behavior concerns
• Parenting and discipline
• Trauma and abuse

Children are easily impacted by their environment. No matter how small the issue might seem to an adult, for a child it can be much more complex and painful. At Tacoma Christian Counseling, we urge parents to listen to their children and to understand that no problem is too small for professional counseling. If issues within the family are causing trouble for your child, you might consider Christian family counseling to help you build a healthier, happier family unit.

Have Faith, Dear Child

My dear child please understand —

Your life is part of God’s great plan.

You’re one of a kind, wonderfully made;

His love for you will never fade.

So when you’re feeling scared or blue,

Know God’s angels watch over you.

You are special, you will see;

The love of Jesus can set you free.

-Anonymous

The goal of Christian counseling for children is to partner with parents and God for the betterment of the child. This means creating an environment of trust between parents and the counselor, where the core values of the parents are upheld. Your child’s Christian counselor will build a safe, nurturing environment for your child, so they can express themselves in ways that he or she feels comfortable. Christian counseling for children will encourage your child to talk about faith and how they can find safety and hope through the love of Jesus Christ.

Through Christian counseling for children, your child can gain:

• Understanding of their behaviors and how to make positive change.
• Tools for learning to express and manage emotions.
• Development of social skills.
• A safe place for self-expression and learning who they are.
• Support and guidance for overcoming past trauma.

Your child is uniquely designed by God and has his or her own special part in His plan. Sometimes it’s hard to understand why children suffer, through faith we know that God is shaping them for His purposes. God loves his children, and He will bring them through this difficult time. At Tacoma Christian Counseling, we are honored to partner with you and with Christ for the common interest of helping your child build a happy, God-filled life now and in the future.

The decision to seek Christian counseling for your child can present you with a lot of questions. You might wonder what will happen during the sessions and what your role is as a parent in the counseling process.

Christian Counseling Methods for Children

Each child has their own experiences and needs. Your child’s Christian counselor will know how to best interact with your child so they can get the most out of the sessions. Things like the child’s age, symptoms, and the concerns of the parents and child are considered when deciding which approach to take. Two predominant methods for child counseling include:

• Play therapy – Play therapy utilizes different games and toys as a way to engage the child with the counselor. A combination of talking with the child, creating safety, and interacting with them in play can establish that Christian counseling for children is a fun, safe place where they are able to express themselves. Play therapy also reveals a lot about the inner thoughts and feeling of the child through the themes they play out. Play therapy gives your child a healthy form of self-expression and a positive outlet for negative and painful emotions.
• Trauma-focused therapy – Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is used for children who have experienced a traumatic or abusive event. The goal of this method is to learn methods for refocusing and managing negative thoughts associated with the traumatic event and to help the child process those experiences. TF-CBT incorporates art, verbal processing, and methods for self-soothing when the child recalls the traumatic event.

Our Christian counselors are experienced in helping children through a wide-variety of issues. They know how to communicate effectively with children of all ages and are experienced in encouraging children to communicate openly in order to gain an understanding of their unique perspective. From there, your child’s counselor will know which steps to take in working towards healing, so your child can live happily and form strong relationships.

Parent’s Role in Christian Counseling for Children

As a parent, you probably want to take an active role in the growth of your child. You might wonder how things like client-counselor confidentiality are approached in children. If your child is under the age of 13, the counselor is under no obligation to maintain strict confidentiality. In fact, young children often do better with a parent present during the counseling sessions because it offers security. Before counseling begins, your child’s counselor will talk with you about things like confidentiality and what you can do as a parent to help your child get the most out of counseling. Regardless of the age or needs of your child, rest assured that your child’s counselor will work with you towards the betterment of the child while keeping you informed of his or her progress.

Christian Counseling Can Help Resolve Behavioral Issues With Children

Hold My Hand

I sometimes scream; I sometimes fight.

I want to play, no sleep tonight.

Staying focused can be hard;

I’d rather run in my backyard.

Sometimes when I’m feeling sad,

I will act out, I will get mad.

I’m a child; I don’t understand.

I need you to show me, to hold my hand.

-Anonymous

When your child is acting out in anger, performing poorly in school, or showing signs of depression or anxiety, it’s time to consider Christian counseling for children. Children who have issues with behavior are often struggling with painful emotions. As a parent, it can be very difficult knowing how to best deal with your child’s behavior, especially if you don’t understand why your child is acting in that way.

Children often have difficulty expressing their emotions. When faced with challenging situations, family conflict, or other life stressors, children can exhibit behaviors such as:

• Sadness
• Sleep disturbances
• Defiance or tantrums
• Anxiety
• Arguments with parents and other family members
• Violence and anger
• Changes in academic performance

These things are often signs of an underlying problem that needs to be addressed. Christian counseling for children can look beyond the negative behavior, viewing the child as an individual who is in pain and crying for help. As parents, it’s easy to focus on the behavior itself. With help from your child’s counselor, you can gain a better understanding of your child’s behavior and learn ways to change that behavior by understanding the cause.

Common causes for behavioral issues with children include:

• Anxiety and depression
• Physical illness
• Feelings of excitement
• Conflict within the family
• A major change in routine
• Learning disabilities
• Interaction with adults who are anxious or impatient
• Modeling inappropriate behavior
• Emotional disconnect between parent and child
• The child isn’t given proper boundaries and guidance

How Christian Counseling Can Modify Bad Behavior in Children

As Christian counselors, we are compassionate towards parents who are trying to do what’s right for their child. We understand that parenting can be challenging at times, and we are here to offer you support and guidance. Once we better understand the cause for your child’s behavior, we can develop a plan for positive change. Part of the plan may include incorporating different parenting styles to see what works best. By doing so, this will allow you and your child to understand what is causing the bad behavior and find a solution that works.

Our Christian counselors are here for you and your child.

As a parent, few things are worse than watching your child struggle and feeling that you’re unable to help them. We understand that you want the best for your child, and we are here to help you in any way we can. Give us a call at (253) 777-1997 or contact us online to learn more about Tacoma Christian counseling for children or to schedule an appointment.

How is the Christian approach to counseling beneficial to my child?

Christian counseling for children offers everything secular counseling provides and more. Your child will be able to express and learn about faith (as to what you are comfortable with). Knowing that they have purpose and unconditional love through Jesus Christ can be very healing. Through Christian counseling, your child is provided with an approach to healing of not just the mind and body, but also of the spirit.

How do I talk to my child about counseling?

Parents often wonder how to prepare their child for counseling. Older children might feel reluctant, scared, or ashamed. Young children might not understand what’s happening. For starters, focus on the issues, not the child. Explain that everyone goes through hard things, and counseling isn’t for “bad” kids. Talk with them about the office, encourage them to bring something with them, like a favorite toy. Reinforce that counseling is a good thing, meant to help them and you learn to live more happily together.

Can I bring my other children to see the same counselor?

Sometimes parents have such success with Christian counseling for one child, that they want their other children to see the same counselor. That can work in some cases, while other times it’s better to see different counselors. Your child’s Christian counselor will evaluate your individual situation and the needs of your children to determine the best option.

How do I choose the right Christian counselor?

Finding the right counselor is highly important. You want someone with experience in counseling children in the same age group and with the same kind of issues your child is facing. At Tacoma Christian Counseling, each counselor has their own approach and different skills. We will help match you with the right Christian counselor for your child. Feel free to browse our counselor profiles, and contact us with any questions.