Youth and Children: Nurturing Young Minds
Helping Children grow
Growing up comes with its own set of challenges, as the minds of children and youth operate on their own unique frequencies. Their emotional, behavioural and social ranges are vast, and they are at a stage in their life where they are still trying to figure out the many mysteries of how the world works, and where they fit into all of it. As such, and unsurprisingly, the challenges experienced by children and youth can be quite difficult for adults to understand, and even more difficult to comprehend the necessary coping skills to navigate the complexities of growing up, family dynamics, school, and social relationships.
When your child might need counselling
Children may benefit from counseling when they experience various challenges or difficulties that impact their emotional, social, or behavioral well-being. Here are signs that indicate your child might need counseling:
Struggling At School
Academic, social, and emotional challenges that impact children’s well-being and academic success.
Trouble Regulating Emotion
Having trouble managing emotions such as anger and frustration
Social Anxiety
Experiencing anxiety over social situations and withdrawing
Poor Self-Esteem
Low self-esteem, feelings of worthlessness, self-criticism, or negative self-talk that impact their sense of identity and confidence.
Life Transitions
Experiencing major transitions including moving, changing schools, or dealing with changes in family structure
Sleep or Eating Disturbances
Changes in sleep patterns (insomnia or excessive sleep) or eating habits (loss of appetite or overeating) that persist over time.
How we can help
Counselling for children and youth requires a unique set of skills, where the engagement and language used are catered towards helping them feel safe, heard and understood. At Strive Counselling, our dedicated associates who work with children have many years of experience working in elementary schools as both teachers and school counsellors before working as registered clinical counsellors at Strive. They currently utilize age-appropriate and evidence-based approaches to help young clients understand and manage their emotions, build resilience, and nurture confidence and self-compassion to help them with a variety of issues. Some of our favourite approaches incorporate creative outlets of expression, such as art and play therapy, and weaving in rich materials that are easy for young clients to understand and digest.
Art Therapy
Art therapists guide children in creating artwork as a way to communicate and process feelings that may be difficult to verbalize.
Play Therapy
Play therapists observe and interact with children in a playroom setting, using toys, games, and art materials to facilitate communication and emotional expression.
Creating Better Futures For Children
If you are worried about your child or teen, and would like them to talk to someone, please don’t hesitate to reach out for a free consult with one of your youth counsellors. Together, we are looking forward towards a brighter and more confident future for your young one.