Individual Therapy
We all want our children to feel confident, capable, and happy. We want them to have the freedom to choose how to respond to situations, so they succeed, feel proud, have good relationships, and feel responsible and important. We want their light to shine!
What is Therapy?
Sometimes, life’s challenges can feel overwhelming. Parenting is hard. Therapy can help you and your child find a way forward. It’s a space where kids and teens can figure out their story, what is happening to them, and what they want in their next chapters. Therapy helps them understand how they think and feel, to know what bothers them, what is important to them, and their personal challenges. Therapy is where they learn strategies to manage life’s ups and downs. Your child is exactly who they are meant to be. Therapy isn’t about changing a child. It’s about helping them grow into their best selves.
What Happens in Therapy?
We connect in ways that feel natural to your child. For teens, this is usually in the form of open conversations. For younger children, it might involve play or art. Every session is tailored to your child’s needs and personality. We know that the best treatment doesn’t just focus on all the problems. It’s critical that your child learn effective, reliable ways to manage their thoughts and feelings.
Your Role as a Parent
We deeply value the partnership between parents, children, and therapists. Parents play a vital role, and involvement is as flexible as your family needs. Some parents join sessions, others prefer parent-only meetings, and many families stay updated through communication with the therapist between sessions. While we honor a child’s privacy, we encourage open sharing and help kids communicate with parents as appropriate.
Therapy Isn’t a Mystery
From the start, we invite parents to share their concerns and help shape treatment goals. We’ll explain what to expect, outline measurable goals, and guide you on what signs to look for as your child makes progress. We strongly encourage parents to ask questions, share feedback, and even challenge us when needed. Therapy is a collaborative process, and your insights are invaluable. We want you to feel confident that your time, trust, and investment are well spent at Plum Tree.
When to Consider Therapy
If your child is struggling, therapy can make a meaningful difference. Here are signs that it might be time to reach out:
- Emotional: Feelings don’t fit the situation. Worries that intrude on daily life. Frequent irritability. Anger outbursts. Mood swings. Long periods of sadness.
- Behavioral: Repetitive behaviors. Hurting self or others. Yelling, hitting, cursing, threatening. Breaking or throwing things. Overactive or hyper. Perfectionistic behaviors. Difficulty in transitions.
- Cognitive: Trouble focusing. Difficult following directions. Loses track of things, of time, and of what’s next. Negative self-talk (e.g., “Nobody likes me.” “I can’t do anything right.”). Stuck thoughts. Black-and-white, all-or-nothing thinking.
- Academic: School avoidance. Academic underperformance. Feeling overwhelmed by or at school. Behavioral referrals.
- Development: Not keeping up with peers emotionally or socially. Limited eye contact. Limited warmth. Sensory challenges. Insistence on sameness. Rigid mindset. Difficulty in adapting to new things, or to change.
- Social: Difficulty making or keeping friends. Social isolation. Too much time on screens. Feels bullied. Bullies others. Defiant/oppositional toward parents, teachers, or authority figures.
- Family dynamics: Increased tension, difficulty connecting, ongoing drama, unhappy patterns
For Growth, Not Just Struggles
Families who come to Plum Tree come from all walks of life, but they share one thing in common: a commitment to their children’s well-being. Our patients include high-achieving kids who excel as leaders in sports, academics, and community programs. And we also see patients who have big problems with behavior, school, or relationships. Whether your child is thriving and needs support to maintain their success or is struggling and needs guidance to find their footing, we can help. Therapy isn’t a sign of weakness but of strength—an investment in growth, resilience, and a brighter future. You’d never know which kids are in therapy, because it’s about building on strengths, not just solving problems.
Schedule a Consultation
Not sure if therapy is the next step? Contact us and we’ll explore what’s best for your child. We encourage parents to meet the therapist first, to review all their concerns and goals, and to see if that therapist would be a good fit for the family. Plum Tree has many providers, and we will find the right one for you.
