Children’s Therapy

Counseling and Support for Children

From infancy to elementary school and every step in between, children go through all types of stages. Laurie Grengs Counseling offers pediatric counseling and play therapy for children ages six months to 12 years. 

Your Unique Child

No two children are alike. They each have different experiences and are shaped by different molds. Some require more help overcoming challenges; others need little or no guidance. No matter your child’s age, any strain or emotional turmoil can elicit volatile behavior and may impact their mental wellness now and in the future. 

Any number of circumstances affect children’s development and behavior patterns. As highly impressionable beings, they pick and choose what sticks and decide what will affect them, whether intentional or not. Children observe and process information from what they see, taking others’ responses, actions, and words to memory. 

Therapy can reduce parental stress, nurture family dynamics, and help children develop healthy inclinations and character as they take hold of their unique identity. 

Open the Door to Understanding 

Children’s Therapy can be a beneficial resource that opens communication and a door to understanding what has affected your child and how their actions are influenced in turn. In addition, addressing emotional disorders and negative behaviors early in a child’s life will decrease problems in the future. 

Life changes that can negatively or positively impact your child’s development or behavior include:

• Divorce and separations – No matter when you and your spouse divorce or separate, the change can be difficult for youth for many reasons, including visitation schedules, changes in living situations, and the strain placed on relationships with parents.
• Moving to a new home – Moving, a decision parents tend to make without their children, is often seen as a negative change to children who lose friends, teachers, and favorite places they depend on. 
• Taking on new responsibilities – As children get older, we tend to expect them to naturally shoulder some extra responsibilities, but it does not come so naturally to all children. Unspoken expectations or unwanted responsibilities can create a strain in your relationship with your child.
• New siblings – Whether it is a sibling who has just been born, step-siblings, or adoptive siblings, adjusting to new family members can take time and effort. 
• Bullying – If your child is being bullied, or is participating in bullying, they can find themselves in a confusing and unwelcome position.
• Financial hardship – Facing financial hardship at home presents difficulties in understanding and coping for young children.
• Violence or sexual abuse – Violence and abuse of any kind can create traumatic memories for youth. Even when these negative experiences are over, children often have to come to terms with these realities before they are able to move on.
• Deaths – Death can negatively impact anyone. Helping your child process their feelings about the death of a loved one is an important part of individual growth as they create their own coping mechanisms for grief.

Laurie Grengs Counseling can guide your child to better understand themselves, find internal peace, and address the challenges they may be facing in their lives. 

To schedule an appointment with a youth psychologist, contact Laurie Grengs Counseling.