Going to counseling is a significant step, but it will be worth it in the end. Regarding children’s counseling, it can be difficult to assess whether or not your child requires the assistance of a professional.
What is Children’s Counseling?
Children’s counseling is a sort of therapy aimed at young children, teenagers, and adolescents suffering from one or more mental diseases. It also helps young people who have been traumatized or live in dysfunctional or stressful homes.
Many of the challenges that these children confront are similar to those adults face daily. Anxiety, depression, and grief are examples of prevalent concerns. However, the purpose of children’s counseling is to break down difficulties into digestible chunks so that children may better understand and cope with them.
Why Is Child Counseling So Important?
Counseling, at its foundation, teaches children the skills and procedures they need to control their emotions and handle challenging circumstances. It promotes increased self-esteem and self-confidence, can improve social skills, and aids in the transition between life stages.
Regarding the Child
Growing and changing are not always simple. Emotions can run high in childhood and adolescence, and tiny changes in routine or family life can have a major impact on a child’s mental health. Child counseling seeks to assist children and teenagers in working through their emotions and difficult moments so that they can grow into adults who can manage their everyday lives on their own.
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These are also important foundational years. Childhood low self-esteem and confidence can hurt future development. Through therapy, children are taught appropriate coping techniques that will serve them for the rest of their lives, providing them with a secure space to express their feelings and frustrations.
Regarding the Family
Child and teenage mental health concerns can have a ripple effect on the entire family. Parents may feel unprepared to assist their children, and poor communication causes more family rifts than it heals. Family counseling is effective when multiple family members are involved in a situation. While a kid or adolescent is receiving counseling, parents or guardians receive aid in understanding what their child is going through and how to help them best.
Children’s counseling helps children and adolescents how properly communicate their issues with family members, mainly through difficult times such as death or divorce. This communication approaches fosters empathy and understanding among family members, benefiting everyone involved.
When Do You Need Child Counseling?
It is critical to realize that each child is unique. We all react differently to the surrounding environment, and the reasons for seeking counseling range from child to child. But when figuring out if a child needs counseling or not, some situations tend to happen more often.
Bullying
It’s common in schools and even inside a child’s peer group. Bullying undermines self-esteem, harms a child’s self-image, and can even result in physical violence.
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Divorce
It can be just as difficult for children in a divorced home as it is for the parents. Sometimes parents are too close to the issue to assist successfully. In these circumstances, a professional can assist you in communicating with your child, relieving anxiety on all sides of the family.
Anxiety, depression, and other mental health problems
Parents aren’t always equipped to aid their children who are suffering from mental illnesses. A professional can help a child by teaching them how to control their anxiety or sadness, but they can also advise parents on how best to support their child in the future. A child’s diagnosis isn’t always simple, either. According to the CDC, 73.8 percent of children aged 3 to 17 who have depression also have anxiety.
Traumatic events
All children will react differently to a traumatic occurrence, but in most situations, expert assistance relieves stress and teaches children and adolescents how to handle such events.
Acting out of the ordinary
Has your once-social youngster turned into a recluse? Do they eat less than usual? Any conduct that deviates from their personal norm may indicate that your youngster is experiencing difficulties. Aggression, anxiety, academic deterioration, and substance addiction all point to the need for professional assistance.
Children Counselling Services
Choosing to seek children’s counseling services is a difficult decision, and choosing the proper counselor may appear to be an even more difficult one. As a result, when looking for therapists, ask around. In other words, seek recommendations from other parents, caregivers, teachers, and doctors.
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When it comes to finding an excellent child counselor, nothing beats word-of-mouth recommendations. However, remember that what is helpful for one child may be harmful to another, so keep an open mind and make your own judgment. Check out the TherapyTribe Directory if you’re looking for a child counselor in your region. It can assist you in locating the best counselor for your child.
Best Online Counseling Services for Children
Online counseling services for children, according to the American Psychological Association, can be an economical, convenient, and accessible option to obtain therapy. The websites listed below provide counseling services to children and teenagers.
Talkspace
Talkspace provides online support to teenagers aged 13 to 17. Depending on the plan, a child can send an unlimited number of text, picture, and voice messages, as well as participate in live video sessions with their therapist. Talkspace therapy costs between $64 and $114 each week.
TeenCounseling
TeenCounseling is an online platform where kids aged 13 to 19 can mail, chat, call, or video chat with a counselor. Parents and teenagers are separated from the counselor in separate rooms. TeenCounseling charges $60 to $90 each week for counseling.
Amwell
Amwell offers telemedicine and counseling services to children as early as 10 years old through its extensive network of certified psychologists. The cost of a session might range from $99 and $110, depending on the therapist’s credentials.
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Synergy eTherapy
Synergy eTherapy provides help for a variety of ailments and issues, including trauma, family disputes, substance abuse, and anxiety. The cost of a session ranges from $100 to $200, depending on the therapist and their location.
Online-Therapy.com
Individuals can get CBT services at Online-Therapy.com. Online-Therapy.com, unlike traditional teletherapy, provides people with knowledge, tools, worksheets, and other features such as journaling and yoga. The weekly cost ranges from $31.96 to $63.96 depending on the subscription.
Rethink My Therapy
Rethink My Therapy provides a phone and video-based family/child program. The subscription includes therapist access 24 hours a day, seven days a week for up to four accounts. The monthly fee for Rethink My Therapy family/child programs is $159 USD.
Children Counseling Courses
Counseling training programs for children can teach you about various counseling theoretical approaches, interviewing and active listening skills, and how to foster positive interactions.
Start your study adventure today by browsing our top 10 counseling courses for children in 2023!
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#1. Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills – Free Online Course
This extremely popular The Skills Network course has been our #1 counseling course for the past two years in a row. This subsidized training course will help you expand your counseling knowledge and abilities by looking at counseling theories and the key theoretical methods. You will also be encouraged to gain a better awareness of yourself, define your own values and views, and reflect on your personal talents and skills.
#2. Introduction to Counselling and Psychotherapy: WPF Therapy A Taste of Training
Do you want to become a counselor or psychotherapist but have a lot of questions? If so, this two-part online A Taste of Training will help you learn about therapy training and what it can lead to. This immersive session allows you to explore your personal training motivations and dispel stereotypes about therapy training.
#3. What Can You Do to Help? (Childhood Bereavement)
This LearningPlus course explains how you can assist children and young people who have experienced bereavement. The training is intended for both elementary and secondary school instructors.
#4. Counselling Advanced Diploma Level 4
This Level 4 course consists of 20 modules designed to provide the learner with a solid foundation in the key theories underlying the most often used approaches to counseling and psychotherapy.
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#5. Certificate in Child & Adolescent Counselling
Do you adore children? Do you wish to learn about their psychology? This course is ideal if you are passionate about children and their well-being.
The Child and Adolescent Counselling Certificate program is designed for students who want to get a thorough grasp of child and adolescent behavior.
#6. Counselling Diploma—Level 3
Counseling has a significant impact on people’s lives, whether it is marriage counseling, mental health counseling, or rehabilitation counseling. It promotes change and progress in people.
#7. Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills – Free Online Course
You’ll learn about the fundamentals of counseling and how to apply them in a counseling relationship. You will also learn about counseling theory and the ethical framework that guides how counselors apply their abilities.
#8. Counseling and Psychology Course
Accelerate your career as a counselor. Discover the insider secrets to becoming a counseling pro in months, not years. The training allows you to interact with and learn from highly accomplished, qualified and experienced individuals. It also enables you to enter one of the most rapidly rising professions.
#9. Counselling Skills Certificate CPCAB NVQ Level 2
This course is designed for applicants who want to learn how to use counseling abilities within an ethical framework to provide assistance, mentorship, care planning, teaching, pastoral care, and other forms of support work in either a voluntary or paid capacity.
#10. Online Level 2 Certificate in Counselling Skills
Do you want to take one of our counseling courses? This certificate will help you enhance your counseling knowledge and abilities by looking at counseling theories and essential parts of the main theoretical approaches, as well as helping you build self-awareness and reflect on your own values and beliefs.
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Online Children Counselling Courses
In 2023, the following are the top free online counseling courses for children with certificates:
#1. Top Counseling Courses
- Offered by: Udemy
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5
- Duration: Self-paced
- Best Candidate: Beginners
#2. Counselling Skills Certificate Course
- Offered by: Udemy
- Rating: 4.5 out of 5
- Duration: 45.5 Hours
- Best Candidate: Beginners and Advanced
#3. Fully Accredited Professional Counseling Diploma Course.
- Offered by: Udemy
- Rating: 4.4 out of 5
- Duration: 1 Hour
- Best Candidate: Beginners
#4. Counseling Children & Adolescents – ACCREDITED CERTIFICATE
- Offered by: Udemy
- Rating: 4.3 out of 5
- Duration: 2.5 Hours
- Best Candidate: Beginners
#5. Introduction to Psychology by the University of Toronto.
- Offered by: Coursera
- Rating: 4.9 out of 5
- Duration: 23 Hours
- Best Candidate: Beginners
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#6. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) Practitioner Certificate.
- Offered by: Udemy
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5
- Duration: 32 Hours
- Best Candidate: Beginners
#7. Psychological First Aid by Johns Hopkins University.
- Offered by: Coursera
- Rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Duration: 6 Hours
- Best Candidate: Beginners
#8. Positive Psychiatry and Mental Health by The University of Sydney.
- Offered by: Coursera
- Rating: 4.8 out of 5
- Duration: 20 Hours
- Best Candidate: Beginners
#9. Free Counselling Certification
- Offered by: Digital Defynd
- Rating: 4.6 out of 5
- Duration: Not Specified
- Best Candidate: Beginners
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#10. The Arts and Science of Relationships: Understanding Human Needs by University of Toronto.
- Offered by: Coursera
- Rating: 4.5bout of 5
- Duration: 32 Hours
- Best Candidate: Beginners
Conclusion
Counseling children can be quite beneficial for children suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or general anxiety problems. If parents, pediatricians, and teachers believe their children require professional assistance, it is normal for them to seek counseling services. Why? Because child counselors can observe, assess, and determine the underlying cause of your child’s discomfort.
Remember that the main purpose of children counseling is to use the knowledge and expertise of a certified child counselor to alleviate your anxieties and assist your child in receiving the assistance he or she requires to function successfully. A child counselor can provide you and your child with the tools you need to deal with problems and mental health concerns in a healthy and productive way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if my child needs to see a therapist?
Warning signals differ from child to child, but some important changes to watch for are behavioral difficulties and unusual sleeping habits. Something is wrong if your youngster is acting completely out of character. Every child acts out from time to time.
How do I talk to my child about therapy?
Such discussions are tough. Some children are hesitant to consult a counselor. This dialogue can be approached like a doctor’s visit. Tell your child you’re seeing a counselor to make sure they’re healthy and to treat any issues.
Can children really be depressed?
Yes! Many parents think, “They’re only kids, what do they care?” You can’t know everything about your kid. Not always there. They may be dealing with school bullying or familial troubles.
How long will my child be in therapy?
Children are unique. Some children can process their problems in a few sessions, while others need years. Traumatized children may require years to understand and process what happened.