Children
Children and Therapy
Children experience the world differently than adults. They have more limited experience and less language development so that they often have difficulty putting their problems in a context or expressing them so that adults in their lives understand them.
The professionals at Delta Consultants use a variety of techniques to help the child form a relationship with the therapist and express what they are experiencing.
Play therapy can assist children who are age appropriate for this modality. Sand tray, art, and other visual means of expression are available with experienced play therapists. Use of therapeutic computer games can also help a child develop coping skills.
Several specific child related issues include:
- Autism Spectrum/Asperger’s Disorder
- Anger Management/Intermittent Explosive
- Divorce Issues
- Anxiety
- OCD/Tourette’s
- Adoption
Autism Spectrum/Asperger’s Disorder
There is a growing awareness of a number of children who experience a developmental delay in their ability to relate to other people in what are considered “normal” ways. The diagnosis of Asperger’s syndrome or Autism can be stressful for the family and for the individual who has been diagnosed.
Delta Consultants offers evaluation and diagnosis to parents/children/adults who are questioning a possible diagnosis of Autism Spectrum or Asperger’s Disorder. In addition, clinical staff with extensive experience in this area offer parent/child/ adolescent/ adult counseling to help provide appropriate interventions, support and referrals to local services.
Social skills services include individual and group social coaching using the “Social Think” curriculum by Michelle Garcia Winner, and “Relationship Development Intervention” by Steve Gutstein.
Anger Management/Intermittent Explosive
It is normal for people to express anger. In fact, anger is often a motivational influence when the person feels able to control the emotion.
Uncontrolled anger, however, is particularly destructive in relationships. It is very easy for us to become critical and short-tempered with our partner or child and to blame them for making our lives uncomfortable. If we allow it to accumulate, it will become more and more difficult to deal with, and will endanger our relationship with our partner or our child.
In some children, this behavior develops into a behavioral disorder characterized by extreme expressions of anger, often to the point of uncontrollable rage, that are disproportionate to the situation at hand.
Delta Consultants offers individual and family counseling to families with young children and adolescents who have explosive anger issues. Several of the staff are very experienced in working with “The Explosive Child” intervention model developed by Ross Greene.
Divorce Issues
The divorce process can evoke strong painful emotions. It is often fraught with feelings of anger, shame, resentment and fear of the future. Often betrayal can destroy any ability to trust. Such overwhelming and conflicting feelings can lead to anxiety, depression and self-destructive behaviors.
Communication often breaks down in a family as parents try to protect children by not involving them directly in discussions about the divorce. Children, however, are painfully aware of the break up of the family. They frequently have questions, concerns, fears and wishes as they proceed through the divorce process.
Children tend to be concerned that expressing feelings and preferences might result in one of two unwanted outcomes: reduced contact with the non-custodial parent or decreased nurturing and support from the custodial parent.
Delta Consultants offers individual, family and group services to adults and children experiencing divorce issues. Our staff is very experienced in addressing the family and individual issues in this area.
Anxiety
Children experience excessive anxiety that interferes with their functioning for a variety of reasons. These might include divorce of parents, death of a parent, a move to a new community or school, substance abuse or mental health problems for a parent or being bullied in school. Anxiety can present in many ways with children. Among the most common signs are:
- Separation issues
- Problems with transitions
- Sleep disruptions
- School phobia
- Problems making friends
- Obsessive thinking
Delta Consultants offers a variety of approaches in both assessing and treating the child, with the aim of helping them build their internal strength by learning a variety of skills and techniques. Work with the parents helps them reinforce these approaches and apply them within the family system.
OCD/Tourette’s Syndrome
Obsessions are recurrent and intrusive thoughts or images that may be followed by repetitive compulsive behaviors. The compulsions are often performed to reduce perceived harm, relieve the anxiety that is associated with the intrusive thoughts or to achieve a sense of completion. These obsessions and/or compulsions are time consuming and cause distress or impairment to the person and to the family.
Tourette’s Syndrome is a related disorder with an onset in childhood and characterized by the presence of multiple physical tics which often wax and wane.
Treatment of these disorders focuses on identifying and helping the individual manage the most troubling or impairing symptoms. While medication may be called for depending on the severity of the problem, often therapy, education and reassurance may be sufficient or can help the individual or child with the tools necessary for them to regain a sense of control in their lives.
Delta Consultants works with the individual and the family in order to help them obtain the necessary resources and tools to cope with the impacts of these disorders.
Adoption
Adoption is a way in which many people can have a family or help a child who needs a family. Adoption is intended to effect a permanent change in the relationship between the adult and the adoptee. However, it does not come without its own issues. Often the adoptee can experience a number of reactions including loss, rejection, guilt, shame and grief, as well as problems with identity, intimacy and mastery/control.
Delta Consultants works with the individual and the family to help them understand these reactions and to develop coping mechanisms to be better able to adjust in the present and to anticipate and prepare for future issues.