Child & Adolescent Issues Help for Child and Adolescent Issues at Lukin Center Expert Child and Adolescent Therapy in Northern New Jersey Growing up can be challenging for parents and children alike, especially for kids who are dealing with emotional distress, trauma, conflict or self-esteem issues. Many young people experience issues such as ADHD, anxiety, depression, eating disorders, or other factors that can affect their relationships, school performance, and social development. Emotional ups and downs and behavior changes are to be expected as children grow and develop, and it can sometimes be difficult for caregivers to know if a child’s challenges require therapy, counseling, or medication. Child & Adolescent Issues at a Glance Emotional ups and downs happen for all children and teens Young people can have a hard time adjusting to change Mental health issues can interfere with a child’s relationships, school performance, and social development Qualified child and adolescent therapists are specially trained to communicate with children, teens, and their families. Almost 4 million children and teenagers in the U.S. experience mental health issues. We’re here to help. Child and Adolescent psychotherapy focuses on the issues that can affect healthy social, emotional, and intellectual development. Therapy gives kids and teens the tools to not only change specific behaviors, but also develop lifelong coping skills they need to deal with stress in a healthy way. Child and Adolescent therapy at Lukin Center utilizes a variety of proven, age-appropriate treatment techniques, and often involves parents, caregivers, teachers, and families as needed. Is Child and Adolescent Therapy Right for Your Child? Child and Adolescent Therapy is proven to help children and teens who: Struggle socially Act aggressively toward others, or overreact to situations Use drugs or alcohol Cling to caregivers Express feelings of sadness or hopelessness Self-harm Show persistent worry, anxiety, or fear Have a sudden, unexplained change in grades or school performance Lose interest in things they enjoy Express suicidal thoughts Have trouble concentrating or thinking clearly Develop obsessive rituals such as washing hands, cleaning things, or counting Show signs of an eating disorder Suddenly change sleeping or eating patterns How can Lukin Center Help Me with Child and Adolescent Therapy? Working with a highly trained Lukin Center psychotherapist and/ or psychiatrist gives your child or teen a safe, compassionate place to address challenges, emotions, and behaviors. Through confidential therapy sessions and “homework” outside of your child’s appointments, they’ll learn strategies to start using at home, at school, and with friends. Your Child and Adolescent therapist will likely build your child’s treatment plan around specific Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) techniques based in problem-solving. CBT has been proven to be very effective in helping kids who struggle with mental health issues develop healthy coping skills. CBT is an effective therapy for building self-esteem, setting healthy boundaries and expectations, and creatinglife-long skills and habits for better mental health. For younger children (ages 2 to 7), our therapists trained in Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) can help parents and caregivers learn to successfully address behavior issues. The practice involves family sessions where you interact with your child in a playroom setting while your Lukin Center therapist observes and coaches. PCIT helps parents of young children improve parenting techniques, reduce behavior issues, and strengthen family bonds. If you care for a young person who is dealing with child and adolescent issues, we can help. Lukin Center clinicians must maintain the highest possible degrees and certifications in their fields, including best practices for child and adolescent therapy. As one of the largest mental health therapy practices in Northern New Jersey, Lukin Center gives you access to more highly trained therapists and a broader range of specialties, so you can get exactly the help you need. We’ll help you connect with the right mental health professional to get the results you want. How to Avoid Helicopter Parenting “Helicopter parenting” refers to just this; in this scenario, a parent may want to be involved in every second of their child lives, primarily to make sure they are safe. In doing this, a parent can lead their child to believe that they themselves are incapable of doing things alone. Watch Video
