Child Therapy

How can I help my child?

Being a parent does not come with a manual. Yet today, it certainly comes with multiple social media platforms telling you to do this or do that. However, all you want is for your child to be happy and healthy. Nothing is more bothersome than lying awake at night, wondering what is going on and what to do about it.

You may be getting reports from the teacher that your child is struggling to make friends. Or perhaps you are a parent who has observed your child struggling with homework, sleep, or feeling anxious.

At Sierra Oak Counseling, we offer child therapy services in Pleasanton, CA, to help you find the answers to this question. I value working with children and believe child therapy should be an engaging and meaningful experience for you and your child.

You may wonder, “Would my child benefit from therapy?”

The following may help answer that question.

Areas to consider when thinking about the need for child therapy include your child’s experiences, circumstances, and behaviors.

Life experiences, such as the loss of a parent or pet, difficulty connecting with peers, a car accident, or the arrival of a new baby in the family, can represent significant changes that impact a child’s behavior.

Adoption, foster care, or even a new baby in the family can also create an environment that requires adjustment on the part of the child. Some children may suffer from panic attacks, wake up afraid, or suffer from a medical diagnosis. Others may be obsessed with perfection.

Any of the above issues are situations where child therapy can help.

Board games, crafts, and play. Oh my!

As a child therapist, I am specially trained to help piece the puzzle together, especially given my background in teaching and special education.

I believe behaviors are a way children communicate, “I need support.” When providing child counseling, we work together with the parent and the child to solve the puzzle.

Modalities I may use when working with your child include Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, Expressive Arts, and Parent Coaching.

We combine the language of children, which is play, with therapeutic intervention. What does it actually look like:

What does child therapy involve?

Sessions will vary in format for each child. At Sierra Oak Counseling, we prioritize our relationship with caregivers/parents to ensure your child is considered in a holistic and culturally sensitive view.

Your therapist will walk you through an assessment session process. At the end of this assessment, you and your therapist will create a treatment plan for your child. The treatment plan will include specific, measurable goals and a detailed plan for achieving them.

Five sessions are usually recommended. At the fifth session, you will meet with your therapist to review the treatment plan and discuss whether goals have been met or to plan for subsequent sessions.

How do I sign up?

Your free 20-minute consult begins here by clicking this tab, which gives us a chance to review symptoms and concerns and to schedule any follow-up sessions with our licensed therapist.