office.  317-403-5053   email.  erin@designingmylife.com

 

 

Erin Hamilton, MSW

Coming Out

to Your Kids Tips

     

 

 

 

Benefits of Child Therapy

Erin Hamilton, MSW

 

Take a moment and think back to your childhood.  Do you remember feeling isolated and misunderstood?   Were your parents completely out of touch with the problems you were dealing with and how to best talk to you about your life?  If you answered yes to either question, you were a normal kid! 

Now think about your own children.  What are some of the issues/problems they are dealing with?  Every child deals with some sort of issue when they are growing up, whether it is a mean kid at school calling them names, fighting with a sibling, being different from other kids or having a diverse family. Children are constantly trying to figure out how to best fit in and interact socially with peers.  So, when is the right time to seek professional counseling? 

There are several indicators that may suggest you seek counseling for your child.  The first is if the problems are disrupting daily life.  Sure, a day here or there is normal, but if your child is experiencing problems daily that are affecting their functioning, it may be time to seek professional help.  Increased arguing at home and/or at school, dropping grades, increased anxiety (which may be expressed as stomachaches and headaches), lack of interest in friends or activities and unwillingness to separate from family or conversely, isolating from family are just a few of the more common symptoms.  If you feel like you’ve tried everything and nothing seems to make the problems any better, it may be time to seek professional assistance. 

Child therapists are trained in specialized knowledge and skills enabling them to identify the problem(s) and formulate appropriate interventions.  Parental involvement is always encouraged, as most problems revolve around family issues.  In my practice, parents are my partner in the therapeutic process, as feedback is critical in effectively treating your child.  Children are resilient, but also fragile.   Having another person on your family team will ensure a well-adjusted happy life.

 

For more information on Erin, go to http://www.designingmylife.com/htm.erin

You can also email her at erin@designingmylife.com or call at 317.403.5053

 

 

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