As parents, we want nothing more than to see our children thrive, both academically and emotionally. However, the challenges they face can sometimes be overwhelming, affecting their well-being and academic success. In such moments, therapy outside of the school setting emerges as a powerful ally, offering transformative support that can unlock your child’s full potential. Discover how Sunstone Counseling can empower your child’s journey and provide the essential tools for growth.
As a parent, realizing that your child is experiencing bullying and harassment from their peers is a difficult and painful experience, and often one that leaves you feeling helpless. After all, you can’t be with your child every second of the day or control the behavior of others. But, there are ways that you can support your child, as well as empower them to stand up for themselves and others who are being bullied.
Previously known as “guidance counselors,” school counselors’ duties have evolved over time to take on a significantly more impactful role in educational settings. Professional school counselors are recognized for their expanded scope of practice, enhanced educational requirements, and increased level of responsibility and accountability. Yet many people still believe the purpose of a school counselor is predominantly to advocate for their students’ academic wellbeing. In celebration of National School Counseling Week, we shed light on some of the most common misconceptions of school counselors.
For children, play is their world. It’s how they express themselves, build relationships, and learn about their environment. Play is a crucial piece to child development. As a parent, your role is to not only take time to connect with your child through play, but also, allow the space and opportunity for your child to play. So, why should you, as a parent, encourage play in a child?
As teens struggle through the tough transition period of childhood into young adulthood, it can be difficult to decipher a teen’s behavior. Are their out-of-control emotions and conduct a result of the natural process of adolescence, or is it something more serious?
Whether it’s physical or sexual abuse, emotional neglect, homelessness, or the sudden loss of a loved one, childhood trauma leaves a lasting impact on the child and even the adult they grow into. Here are 3 therapeutic approaches to help children – and adults – process and heal from trauma.
A play therapist uses a unique skill set to connect with children through a child’s symbolic language of self-expression: play. For young children. play is developmentally and fundamentally their language to articulate and process through feelings and difficulties. It allows them to connect and achieve growth in a profound way that classic talk therapy would not be able to provide. Children communicate through play in such an amazing way; it allows and welcomes a self-healing process in which they can engage.
Access to video sessions continues to offer therapeutic connection through the child-therapist interaction as well as prioritize the unique needs of each child. Counselors working with children remotely are upholding the integrity of the therapeutic relationship and incorporating endless techniques that are supportive to each child’s growth. Learn what to expect from a virtual play therapy session and how best to prepare your child.
Often, children and their caregivers do not realize anxiety can have physical effects. Children can experience various physical symptoms related to anxiety such as stomach aches, headaches, indigestion, muscle tension, nausea, fatigue, sleep disruption, and restlessness. Physical symptoms like these should always first be medically explored to rule out other underlying causes. That being said, these types of symptoms are often produced by anxiety.
When social media first took center stage back in the mid-2000s, it was largely intended as an avenue to help connect people near and far. However, there have also been unintended consequences. While the use of social media continues to be a heavily discussed topic, focus has shifted to bullying that can result from social media use.
Most can agree that attachment is vital within the parent-child relationship. It is well researched that attachment within early childhood, beginning in infancy, plays a big role in the future emotional and social outcomes of an individual. Building upon Gary Chapman’s love languages, we share five ways to express love to your child(ren) to develop and foster a strong attachment bond.
