What is Child Therapy, and Do Your Children Need It?

Child therapy is an effective approach for children, typically between 3 and 12, who have problems they can’t deal with alone. While some growing pains may seem normal, getting children’s counseling may become necessary for kids developing behavioral problems.

Learn how therapy for kids works, what your options are, and how it can improve your relationship with your child in the long term.

What is Child Therapy?

Child therapy, or child counseling, focuses on children with problems requiring adult guidance and supervision. Licensed professionals, called developmental therapists, typically lead these sessions one-on-one or in groups.

What is the Goal of Child Therapy?

The goal of child therapy is to identify and manage the issues or trauma a child might be experiencing. It aims to assist children with emotion management, coping strategies, changed behavior, and effective communication.

What are the Common Reasons for Seeking Therapy for Children?

A parent or caregiver might seek therapy for their child if the problem interferes with their daily life. Therapy is viable if the parents or caregivers feel they cannot manage the situation themselves.

When deciding whether your child can benefit from therapy, observe signs like your child acting out of character or rebelling.

Among the most common reasons a parent might seek therapy for their child include:

• Depression or anxiety
• Sudden withdrawal from social life and academics
• Trouble managing emotions
• Grief or loss
• Trauma
• Significant changes in mood, sleep, or eating habits
• Self-harm or suicide ideation

What are the Benefits of Child Therapy?

Child therapy provides an excellent outlet for managing negative emotions and behaviors [*]. It also gives children a safe space to express their feelings and desires. A few significant advantages of child therapy include the following:

• Better coping skills. Child therapy can help young people be more resilient when they face challenging situations. For example, they can develop strategies like deep breathing or meditation when dealing with stress.
• Healthier relationships. Child therapy strengthens interpersonal skills so children can develop healthier and more nurturing friendships with their peers.
• Improved academic performance. Children struggling emotionally may struggle to focus on school. When they are equipped with coping tools, children develop a sense of motivation and confidence to succeed.

What are the Types of Child Therapy?

Different types of child therapy exist to alleviate various symptoms and treat specific conditions.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for children focuses on negative thought patterns and replacing them with positive ones. CBT therapists employ techniques like teaching mindfulness, which encourages children to be more aware of their thoughts and feelings.

CBT is best for children who have experienced trauma, as it helps them acknowledge what happened and desensitize themselves to triggers.

This therapy type employs approaches like:

• Restructuring. processing and “flipping” of negative thoughts
• Exposure. gradually exposing children to triggers to desensitize them
• Modeling. roleplaying scenarios that a child may struggle with

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)

Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT) is most applicable to children experiencing suicidal thoughts and engaging in self-destructive behaviors. It is also most effective for adolescents diagnosed with borderline personality disorder (BPD).

While similar to CBT in that DBT focuses on an individual’s thoughts and emotions, it emphasizes validation. Whereas CBT encourages individuals to replace their negative thoughts, DBT asks them to reflect on and accept these thoughts wholeheartedly.

Through DBT, children can develop skills like:

• Mindfulness
• Interpersonal effectiveness
• Distress tolerance
• Walking the middle path

Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

Parent-child interaction therapy (PCIT) is an evidence-based module best for children with behavioral problems [*]. During a session, parents and children engage in regular play while a therapist observes their interactions.

PCIT involves two phases:

• Establishing rapport between the child and parent through learning
• Managing the child’s most troubling behaviors and developing a gentle yet effective approach to discipline

Ultimately, PCIT aims to decrease instances of tantrums, arguments, and untoward behavior while increasing the child’s attention span, self-esteem, and pro-social behaviors.

PCIT typically occurs over 12 to 20 sessions, but treatment isn’t time-limited.

Play Therapy

As its title suggests, play therapy creates an enjoyable environment for children to feel safe being themselves. It’s best for younger children with limited means of verbal expression, and therapists use this play time to explore the child’s unresolved emotions or potential trauma.

Play therapy has many benefits, including teaching children to be accountable for certain behaviors and to develop more empathy toward others [*]. It also empowers a child socially and inspires better communication.

Sessions last an average of thirty minutes but can vary depending on the child’s attention span. It can also happen in two ways:

• Directive. The therapist takes the lead and introduces specific toys and games. Directive sessions typically work toward a single goal, such as increasing patience or managing tantrums.
• Indirective. This approach is less structured and encourages children to take the lead. The therapist will observe their behaviors closely.

Family Therapy

Family therapy works to improve communication styles between family members. This type of therapy is especially helpful for children with anxiety, as the unit can identify the problem together and apply changes wherever needed.

During family therapy, each member learns how to make themselves heard in a kind and approachable way. There are various approaches:

• Functional therapy. This approach is best for families with a child experiencing behavioral problems. Over up to 30 weekly sessions, families will develop strategies to correct and accommodate the behavior.
• Multisystemic therapy. Like functional family therapy, multisystemic therapy addresses troubling behaviors in children but focuses more on the broader reasons. It also centers around how families manage their social systems
• Transgenerational therapy. Children living in multigenerational households might benefit from this type of therapy, as it encourages all members to understand and embrace generational differences and nuances.

Behavior Therapy

If your child has a behavioral condition like ADHD, behavior therapy may be best for them. During behavior therapy, therapists work with parents to help make the child’s environment safer and more stable. Some of these changes might include developing a predictable daily routine or using positive reinforcement.

What Role Do Parents Play in Their Child's Therapy Process?

Parents play an integral role in providing therapists with insight into their child’s behavior. They can also express their concerns in a safe and non-judgmental space while finding better ways to support their children at home.

Many child therapy sessions also address gaps in a child and parent’s communication styles and general relationship. Some parents may benefit from emotion coaching, as it can help them develop patience and become more attuned to their child’s feelings.

How Long Does Child Therapy Take?

How long child therapy takes will ultimately depend on the type of therapy they must undergo. Generally, most therapists recommend meeting with your child at least once a week for a few months.

Research by the American Psychiatric Association suggests that it takes an average of at least 15 to 20 sessions for 50% of individuals to show consistent change [*].

The Bottom Line

All children need a little help developing into healthy adults. However, in some cases, it may be necessary to contact a child therapist to provide your child with additional emotional support.

Home is a good place to start improving your child’s coping mechanisms and self-care habits. Explore our collection of worksheets for activities and readings to help increase your child’s resilience toward life stressors.

Sources:

1. DeGangi G. “Pediatric Disorders of Regulation in Affect and Behavior.” Google Books, 2017.
2. Thomas R, Abell B, Webb HJ, Elbina Avdagic, Zimmer-Gembeck MJ. “Parent-Child Interaction Therapy: A Meta-analysis.” PEDIATRICS, 2017.
3. Landreth GL. “Child-Centered Play Therapy.” Play Therapy, 2023.
4. Will L. “How Long Will It Take for Treatment to Work?” American Psychiatric Association, 2017.