Children express emotions differently than adults. Children tend to act out emotionally or exhibit mood, sleep, and social disturbances because they are not mature enough to articulate their emotions effectively. A therapist understands the unique needs of children, and they have specialized training for communicating with children in ways that are accessible to the child.

Therapists are specifically trained to help children process and heal from a traumatic experience. Some children may develop trauma issues after experiencing sudden losses, such as the death of a sibling or caregiver. Trauma can also develop after a child experiences abuse and neglect, natural disasters, car accidents, or witnessing violence.

A therapist can provide grief counseling to help a child who may need support when recovering from a loss. They can help children find healthy ways to express their emotions and to heal from their losses. Because children in certain developmental stages understand and process death and other losses differently than adults, grief counseling helps children understand and move through the grieving process. It also gives children the freedom to express their sadness and other emotions without fear of upsetting their parents.

Psychotherapy for children takes many forms, depending on the therapist, and the unique needs of the child. I utilize the following techniques:

Play therapy is a type of children's therapy that uses play to help children articulate and express their emotions and inner thoughts. It is designed to work from a child's perspective. It also helps the child feel at ease and open up. A therapist can use play to help children feel more comfortable while they talk about their lives and emotions. It can also be used to help build confidence or to help illustrate conversations in ways that are easier for children to understand.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is also used with children. This type of therapy teaches the skill of learning to replace negative thoughts with positive thoughts and how to use coping techniques for controlling their own behavior issues. This type of therapy works to give children skills for dealing with stress that make them uncomfortable, and it addresses behavioral problems, social problems, and emotional problems.