If you’re the parent of a child who is struggling in some area of their life (at home, school, or with their peers), you’re likely looking for solutions to help them feel better. If you decide working with a therapist is a good option, you may want to know what you can expect and how a counselor will help. When working with young people, therapists utilize a dynamic range of therapy approaches that are geared toward your child’s changing needs, but they always use therapy techniques that are evidence-based and proven effective for young clients. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is one of the most commonly used therapy approaches for both adults and young people. In this blog, we’ll talk a little about how it can benefit young clients and what your child or teen can expect when working with a therapist who uses CBT.
What is CBT?
CBT is a unique approach to therapy that considers the way that our thoughts, feelings, and actions are interrelated. By taking time to consider these connections and explore the ways that changing one aspect can ripple out to affect the others, clients can start to take steps or make small changes that lead to big differences in their daily lives.
How Can CBT Be Applied to Help Young Clients?
Young people are still developing self-awareness and learning to understand their place in the world and how to interact with those around them. When you add some difficulty like anxiety or stress on top of general challenges associated with emotional, mental, and physical development, it’s no surprise that young people find themselves having a tough time. CBT can be an effective way for young people to develop a deeper sense of self-awareness and learn strategies to manage big emotions, confronting thought patterns, and problematic behaviors. Specifically, studies have shown that CBT for young people can be beneficial for those who are struggling with a range of concerns, including:
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Trauma and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Behavioral Issues
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
Do Young People Understand CBT?
Many parents are concerned that their child will not understand the therapy techniques we’re using, but that’s actually okay. It’s the job of the therapist to understand how the specific therapeutic approach works. We utilize CBT to provide clients with resources and strategies to manage specific challenges. Essentially, even if your child isn’t able to fully comprehend the complexity of CBT as a therapy approach, they can still benefit from applying specific CBT skills that they master through practice with their therapist.
Can I Schedule a Session for My Child?
If you’re interested in learning more about CBT and how it can help your child, the Center for CBT in New York City welcomes young people ages 10 and up, and we would love to work with your child. Getting started is easy. Simply take a few moments to reach out to our office over the phone, via email, or using our online request form. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
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