Child & Adolescent
Therapy in Honolulu & Kailua

Childhood and teenage years are times when steady growth and development are needed—times that are a mix of productive and carefree. But for some kids and teens, emotional or behavioral issues can arise that stand in the way. For them, child and adolescent therapy can provide help and support.

Emotions and behaviors can be challenging for kids for many reasons and are often complicated. They can be triggered by relationships with family, siblings, peers, school challenges, or from inside. Regardless of the cause or origin, dealing with them productively is essential.

Our therapists understand young people and are trained to help them navigate difficult situations or recover from their effects. Counseling for children and adolescents is crucial when problems arise so that a young person can avoid carrying them into adulthood and later life.

What Can Therapy for
Kids and Teens Accomplish?

Do you have a son or daughter who is acting out or retreating into their shell to avoid communicating? Most kids and teens hit rough patches from time to time, but if it continues for more than a week or two, counseling in Honolulu may be something to consider. Your child’s teachers or school may recommend it.

Every kid is unique, and each faces particular challenges, but there are some things that therapists commonly work on, and they include:

Changing harmful or unhealthy behaviors
Improving relationships at home and school
Addressing anxiety or depression
Building more self-esteem
Learning better coping skills

The sooner you enroll your child or adolescent in therapy, the sooner the work and improvements can begin. If you hold off hoping for improvement and it doesn’t occur, the emotional or behavioral problems can become more entrenched. Then, it’s a longer process to move past them.

Oahu child therapy, Honolulu & Kailua, HI. Therapists for adolescents help Hawaii kids & teens with mental health issues.

What Treatment
Approaches are Effective?

When you bring your child to Wellness Counseling, you’ll access some of the most knowledgeable child and adolescent therapists Honolulu and Kailua have to offer. We offer a wide range of treatment approaches and will select the one (or ones) that will help your child make the most progress.

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a widely used form of talk therapy that is effective for many people, including children and adolescents. It draws upon our understanding of behavioral and cognitive psychology.
Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) incorporates CBT and adds other concepts. It also encourages clients to view their Honolulu therapists as allies who accept and validate their client’s feelings.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) is a type of therapy derived from CBT that encourages clients to take action. It involves accepting emotions, committing to making changes and adopting healthier behaviors.
Family Therapy is just what it sounds like—members of a family attend therapy sessions together to work through issues as a group. It can be an effective approach to helping kids and teens.
Group Therapy can include children and adolescents working on similar problems. Examples could consist of anger, shyness, and self-esteem issues.
Play Therapy is a creative approach that employs playing, drawing, building, or pretending to discover and deal with psychological issues. It can be a way to work with children who might not be as aware of their feelings and emotions.

It’s also important to note that needs change over time. We might begin counseling sessions using play therapy and move to other methods, such as CBT, as treatment continues. Psychotherapy is a dynamic process, and the goal is to help your child become happier, more successful, and better adjusted.

When Do Children & Adolescents
Need Counseling?

At times in life, we all need someone to talk to and a safe place to do so, and counselors can provide both. The top adolescent and child counseling Hawaii offers lets young people feel understood and heard. There may be things they feel uncomfortable discussing that they can voice more freely in a supportive Honolulu therapy session.

For kids and teens, therapy is also about feeling listened to and developing a sense of trust.

Initial sessions are about listening and developing a positive therapist-client relationship. In the case of very young children, parents may attend some or all sessions with their child. A treatment plan arises from the initial sessions, guiding future sessions and the therapeutic process.

Honolulu children’s therapy, Oahu. Adolescent therapists in Hawaii talks with teen. Counseling, Hawaii.

How Often Will My
Child or Teen Have Appointments?

Nearly everyone attending therapy has weekly appointments so that progress occurs at a desirable rate, and some people may attend two or three sessions per week. It depends on the person and the issues causing emotional or behavioral problems.

We’re easily accessible from anywhere in Honolulu and not hard to reach from many other Oahu locations. It’s also possible to attend remotely through a telehealth appointment. Younger children may have challenges paying attention when working remotely, and for them in-person sessions may work better.

It’s also common to begin with more than one visit per week and switch to one after progress has been made. Or vice versa, if a single weekly appointment isn’t bringing the desired improvement quickly enough, you step up to two visits. Your child or teen’s needs will always come first with us.

With us, your child or teen can talk about their concerns with someone they can trust, who will individualize treatment to meet their specific needs.

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What are the
Signs My Child Needs Therapy?

While there isn’t always an exact or straightforward set of rules to determine when children and teenagers need counseling, there are some things you can consider warning signs. The duration of the problems also matters – if behavioral or emotional issues are persistent, then therapy can be indicated.

√Recurring anxiety, depression, or withdrawal

√Behavior or discipline problems at school

√ Difficulty making or keeping friends

√Excessive conflicts with parents or siblings

The list of reasons for kids to attend counseling in Honolulu is much longer than the one above, but it is helpful as an example of some of the most frequent issues. Your child or teen may be experiencing a combination of issues that complicates the situation. Our therapists are experienced in discovering and understanding the group of factors that are having an impact, allowing them to provide helpful treatment.

Why Choose Wellness Counseling for
Adolescent & Children’s Therapy?

Wellness Counseling’s child and adolescent therapy sessions are led by caring, experienced counselors. Our Oahu psychotherapy center is known for providing services to people of all ages, as individuals or groups. We work with clients from all walks of life and carefully match Oahu therapists to each client based on personality and needs.

We’ll help your child or teen overcome emotional or behavioral issues.

Not enough can be said about the importance of personalized treatment. We’ll meet your child where they are, assess the situation and needs, and then recommend a treatment plan that provides therapy alone or in coordination with medication management.

Learn More About Us

Honolulu Child &
Adolescent Therapists

The most important thing is getting help for your child or teen if they need it. If you’re unsure or would like a professional opinion, you’re encouraged to call or contact us. We strive to be one of Honolulu’s best mental health clinics for children, adolescents, and people of all ages.

We maintain a welcoming atmosphere designed to put everyone at ease, regardless of their needs. You’ll feel better after working with us and begin a new life path that is happier and more productive for your child. Overcoming childhood mental health issues is crucial in both the short and long term. Get started with the best child and teen counseling Hawaii has available. Book an appointment today.