Child counsellor near me

How is autism diagnosed? An evaluation for autism will focus on patient interviews; observations of behavior; tests of cognitive and language abilities; medical tests to rule out other conditions; and, often, interviews with parents, caregivers, and/or teachers. Many children can be reliably diagnosed with autism by age 2, and early diagnosis is essential for beginning therapies and services that can support healthy development. ASD can also be diagnosed in adults. Can autism be overcome with treatment? There is no cure for autism, but treatments and therapies can help children develop stronger social and communication skills, limit repetitive behaviors, and begin to function more effectively in their daily lives. Autism is a spectrum disorder, and so while some people with the condition may experience mild discomfort in social settings, others may live with intellectual disability or experience seizures or violent outbursts. Therapy can aid people at different points on the spectrum, and sometimes dramatically benefit young children, but progress often varies depending on the individual’s symptoms.

I am a licensed Marriage and Family therapist with years of experience helping children , individuals, and families navigate anxiety, difficult transitions, family issues, arguments, separation anxiety, trauma, divorces, poor self-esteem, and all of the many challenges of parenting, growing up, and being human. Life is hard (especially right now), Relationships are not always easy, and trying anything new can be scary. It takes tremendous courage to decide that you would like to begin working on yourself. While I can’t do this work for you, I will walk beside you and offer guidance and support as you learn how to examine your own behavior, choices, and relationships in a new, kinder-to-yourself, way. Let’s work together to find, care for, and celebrate you; as you are, have been, and would like to be. I so look forward to accompanying you on your journey. Periodically we discover that something in our lives needs to shift in order to continue to be the best version of ourselves. This can be a difficult realization to come to and my objective is to support you as you remake what is no longer useful in order to continue on your path to wellness. My experience primarily lies in working with women and girls to address a variety of mental health needs including depression, anxiety, sexual trauma, self-esteem issues, developmental concerns, parenting concerns, infertility and postpartum difficulty. Working with the unique needs of women is a passion of mine. Through my work with...

Child Therapy in Chesapeake, VA—Therapists, Counselors for Kids Bobbi wakes up and doesn’t want to get ready for school. She doesn’t eat breakfast, brush her teeth, or change out of her pajamas. Her mom is shocked. Bobbi is an A+ student and normally loves to go to school. She begs her mom to stay home. When her mom asks her why, Bobbi doesn’t answer and becomes really quiet. Because Bobbi doesn’t want to tell her parents what’s going on, she reluctantly makes her way to school. When she gets home, she is visibly upset and doesn’t speak. Bobbi’s parents become more curious and worried over their daughter’s behavior. They reach out to her teacher, and the teacher suggests having Bobbi talk to a child therapist. Bobbi is willing to meet up with the therapist, and during her second appointment admits that she has been bullied by a few other students in her class. Now that they know what’s going on, her parents discuss the issue with Bobbi’s teacher and principal. They work together to address the problem and the next few days at school go much better for Bobbi. Soon, Bobbi is back to her happy self . Seeing your child undergo challenges is extremely tough. You desperately want to help them, but sometimes you don’t have all of the answers. That is where child therapy can be extremely beneficial for your child. At Thriveworks Chesapeake, our counselors and psychologists are experienced and passionate, and they want to help. What Concerns Might Necessitate Child Therapy? Your ch...

What do trauma counselors do? Trauma therapists are mental health professionals who specialize in working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Though different trauma therapists rely on different techniques, their general role is to help you understand the trauma and make sense of your responses to it; recognize and manage the often painful feelings, such as guilt or shame, triggered by the trauma; and identify coping mechanisms that can help you respond more adaptively to future symptoms or to trauma-related challenges. What is the best type of therapy for PTSD? Psychotherapy has proven to be an effective treatment for PTSD. Prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, or trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy are often recommended, as they aim to rebuild cognitive flexibility—which is often weakened after a serious trauma—and reduce the emotional sting of the traumatic memory. Can you overcome trauma with therapy? Yes; with therapy, it is possible to restore normal functioning and reduce—or in some cases eliminate—trauma-related symptoms such as anger, guilt, insomnia, flashbacks, and hypervigilance. Because the traumatic event cannot be undone, there is no “cure” for trauma, and no treatment is guaranteed to eliminate symptoms for good. However, therapy can help you build resilience and identify coping skills that you can make use of if symptoms reoccur in the future, greatly lessening their impact.

How is autism diagnosed? An evaluation for autism will focus on patient interviews; observations of behavior; tests of cognitive and language abilities; medical tests to rule out other conditions; and, often, interviews with parents, caregivers, and/or teachers. Many children can be reliably diagnosed with autism by age 2, and early diagnosis is essential for beginning therapies and services that can support healthy development. ASD can also be diagnosed in adults. Can autism be overcome with treatment? There is no cure for autism, but treatments and therapies can help children develop stronger social and communication skills, limit repetitive behaviors, and begin to function more effectively in their daily lives. Autism is a spectrum disorder, and so while some people with the condition may experience mild discomfort in social settings, others may live with intellectual disability or experience seizures or violent outbursts. Therapy can aid people at different points on the spectrum, and sometimes dramatically benefit young children, but progress often varies depending on the individual’s symptoms.

What do trauma counselors do? Trauma therapists are mental health professionals who specialize in working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Though different trauma therapists rely on different techniques, their general role is to help you understand the trauma and make sense of your responses to it; recognize and manage the often painful feelings, such as guilt or shame, triggered by the trauma; and identify coping mechanisms that can help you respond more adaptively to future symptoms or to trauma-related challenges. What is the best type of therapy for PTSD? Psychotherapy has proven to be an effective treatment for PTSD. Prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, or trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy are often recommended, as they aim to rebuild cognitive flexibility—which is often weakened after a serious trauma—and reduce the emotional sting of the traumatic memory. Can you overcome trauma with therapy? Yes; with therapy, it is possible to restore normal functioning and reduce—or in some cases eliminate—trauma-related symptoms such as anger, guilt, insomnia, flashbacks, and hypervigilance. Because the traumatic event cannot be undone, there is no “cure” for trauma, and no treatment is guaranteed to eliminate symptoms for good. However, therapy can help you build resilience and identify coping skills that you can make use of if symptoms reoccur in the future, greatly lessening their impact.

Child Therapy in Chesapeake, VA—Therapists, Counselors for Kids Bobbi wakes up and doesn’t want to get ready for school. She doesn’t eat breakfast, brush her teeth, or change out of her pajamas. Her mom is shocked. Bobbi is an A+ student and normally loves to go to school. She begs her mom to stay home. When her mom asks her why, Bobbi doesn’t answer and becomes really quiet. Because Bobbi doesn’t want to tell her parents what’s going on, she reluctantly makes her way to school. When she gets home, she is visibly upset and doesn’t speak. Bobbi’s parents become more curious and worried over their daughter’s behavior. They reach out to her teacher, and the teacher suggests having Bobbi talk to a child therapist. Bobbi is willing to meet up with the therapist, and during her second appointment admits that she has been bullied by a few other students in her class. Now that they know what’s going on, her parents discuss the issue with Bobbi’s teacher and principal. They work together to address the problem and the next few days at school go much better for Bobbi. Soon, Bobbi is back to her happy self . Seeing your child undergo challenges is extremely tough. You desperately want to help them, but sometimes you don’t have all of the answers. That is where child therapy can be extremely beneficial for your child. At Thriveworks Chesapeake, our counselors and psychologists are experienced and passionate, and they want to help. What Concerns Might Necessitate Child Therapy? Your ch...

Everyone deserves to do better than just getting by, but sometimes life can throw us for a loop. Whether you have experienced mental health challenges for years or are faced with new anxieties, or even if you’re just living through a pandemic, I would be honored to help get you back on track. I am passionate about working with both children and adults. While only the kids usually get to fingerpaint, my philosophy of counseling is the same with everyone. My job is to learn about your strengths, and help you use them to work toward your goals. I want everyone to find their sense of power and agency in the world. I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor with 20 years experience working with youth and families. I believe that relationships can be repaired. My counseling focuses on re-establishing a sense of hope, safety, trust, and security. I enjoy working with parents since I know from experience how parenting can be both joyous and despairing, often at the same moment. Becoming a parent forces you to go through enormous, and sometimes, unexpected changes as a person, and that as your child is growing, so will you and your family, in ways that may be unexpected and very difficult at times. If you are looking for ways to support yourself, your child , your teen, your relationship, or your family, with anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, parenting, loss, or life transitions, I am a child , couples and family therapist who would be honored to help. I work with children and t...

What do trauma counselors do? Trauma therapists are mental health professionals who specialize in working with individuals who have experienced trauma. Though different trauma therapists rely on different techniques, their general role is to help you understand the trauma and make sense of your responses to it; recognize and manage the often painful feelings, such as guilt or shame, triggered by the trauma; and identify coping mechanisms that can help you respond more adaptively to future symptoms or to trauma-related challenges. What is the best type of therapy for PTSD? Psychotherapy has proven to be an effective treatment for PTSD. Prolonged exposure therapy, cognitive processing therapy, or trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy are often recommended, as they aim to rebuild cognitive flexibility—which is often weakened after a serious trauma—and reduce the emotional sting of the traumatic memory. Can you overcome trauma with therapy? Yes; with therapy, it is possible to restore normal functioning and reduce—or in some cases eliminate—trauma-related symptoms such as anger, guilt, insomnia, flashbacks, and hypervigilance. Because the traumatic event cannot be undone, there is no “cure” for trauma, and no treatment is guaranteed to eliminate symptoms for good. However, therapy can help you build resilience and identify coping skills that you can make use of if symptoms reoccur in the future, greatly lessening their impact.

Candice M. Small, PhD, is a licensed psychologist specializing in providing evidence-based treatments for anxiety, depression, and trauma exposure in children and adolescents. She strives to work collaboratively with caregivers and families to identify strengths and challenges in order to help every child succeed. Dr. Small also specializes in comprehensive therapeutic psychological assessment, including diagnostic assessment for Mood Disorders, Learning Disabilities, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and other learning or executive functioning concerns. -CURRENTLY NOT ACCEPTING NEW CLIENTS - I am a Licensed Mental Health Counselor in the State of Washington with a Masters and PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Bern, Switzerland. I provide therapy to children , adolescents and their families. I have extensive and specialized training in Client-Centered Therapy and Play Therapy. I try to approach every child , adolescent, and family with an open mindset and give them the room to express themselves in whatever way they feel comfortable. I truly believe that every human being has an innate power to grow and become their best self. Through my work with clients I take into consideration family dynamics, community, culture, ethnicity, age and gender. We will look at how these influence everyday experiences and choices to better understand what might be helping, or not helping, as you move toward change. I will provide an environment that is bot...