Kids have problems too! Any organization that offers psychological services for children and adolescents must be fully aware and equipped to handle the unique problems and needs of this age group.

Psychological services for children and adolescents, depending on age, can be both similar (talking, problem-solving) and different (play therapy, drawing, acting out) than those for adults. The primary focus of The Coping Counselors at the Center for Coping is to provide services that are tailor-made for each child or adolescent that you refer to us.

The relationship that develops between the professional and child is essential for effective progress. As such, all of our Coping Counselors have been hand-picked to provide the warm, engaging, empathic skills necessary for beneficial trust and support, enabling the child to feel comfortable expressing feelings and responding to suggestions.

Among the benefits of our psychological services for children and adolescents are for them to:

• Receive compassionate, emotional support
• Learn how to understand their feelings… and improve them
• Identify factors that are interfering with happiness… and deal with them
• Learn techniques to solve conflicts and resolve problems
• Learn new solutions to solve old problems

There are many different problems that can be helped by our compassionate, experienced Coping Counselors, including:

• Family problems (such as divorce or separation, relocation, sibling rivalry, parental issues such as alcoholism, illness, abuse, or unemployment)
• Behavior problems (such as acting out, conduct disorder, noncompliance, bullying, substance abuse, smoking)
• Emotional problems (such as anxiety, panic, depression, low self-esteem, anger, loneliness, shyness)
• School problems (such as learning problems, ADHD, social problems, school anxiety)
• Illness-related issues in the child, parent, other family member, or friend
• Sexual problems (such as gender problems, promiscuity, teenage pregnancy, confusion)
• Eating problems/disorders (such as obesity, anorexia, bulimia)
• Physical issues (such as sleep problems, headaches, body image, self-injury, illness, pain)
• Crisis/post-traumatic stress issues

After careful evaluation, our professional will consider the best treatment plan for the child. The approach may include private sessions, family or group sessions, play therapy, biofeedback, relaxation techniques, or any combination of services.

It is normal for children to go through brief periods of time when they appear to be unhappy. But if a child’s behavior or mood appears to be different from “the norm”, and lasts too long, it may indicate a reason for the child to be seen.

Additional signs to watch for include:

• Depression, lethargy, lack of interest
• Frequent crying spells
• Changes in appetite; loss or gain in weight
• More desire to sleep; less desire to be active
• Changes in relationships with family members
• Changes in social relationships
• Changes in grades in school
• Unusual or frequent emotional outbursts

We believe strongly in the saying, “If in doubt, check it out.” If you have questions as to whether or not something that is “going on” suggests a need for psychological services, call us! We’ll be glad to discuss it with you briefly over the phone, and discuss whether a free initial appointment would be beneficial.

The first step is for parents to call us at (516) 822-3131 to set up a FREE consultation to meet with one of our specialists, talk about the situation, learn how we can help, and have all their questions answered. This is a simple, no-obligation way to learn about The Coping Counselors at the Center for Coping.