In Leonardtown, Dunkirk, & Bethesda, MD
Are You Concerned About Your Daughter’s Mental Health?
Is your child eating less, sleeping more, or spending an unusual amount of time on their phone?
Have they been isolating more and refusing to go out and socialize with friends like they used to?
Are they struggling with negative self-talk and feeling like they’re not smart or pretty enough?
Maybe you’re worried about your daughter because their grades have dropped, their attendance is down, or they’re simply not paying attention in school. Perhaps they’ve been skipping meals or binge eating and you’re worried that they have an eating disorder. They may be having uncommon outbursts of anger and sadness and neglecting the hobbies that they normally love.
Regardless of their challenges, one thing is clear: your child just hasn’t been herself lately. As a result, you may be thinking that it’s time for her to talk to a therapist.
When Your Child Is Struggling, It Can Be Incredibly Stressful For You As A Parent
The more they struggle, the more you want to get involved and try to help them. Yet you may not be sure about the best way to support your child. Maybe part of you wants to enforce consequences and boundaries, but another part is afraid of the backlash you’ll receive.
Or perhaps your child is dealing with anxiety, depression, or an eating disorder and you don’t know how to talk to them about it. You’ve tried to help them as best you can, but it seems like all your efforts bring you nothing but diminishing returns.
The good news is that at Empowered Connections, our therapists specialize in helping girls talk about their emotions and improve their mental health in the process. We know how to get on children’s level and make therapy fun and engaging for them. We also know how to empower them to boost their confidence, increase their self-esteem, and better their social skills, enabling them to enjoy healthier and happier relationships.
Questions About Therapy For Children? Contact Us
Many Girls Are Struggling With Their Mental Health In Today’s World
If your daughter is having a hard time managing her emotions or fitting in at school, she’s not alone. Many girls that come to our practice struggle with social anxiety, school avoidance, disordered eating, and other mental health challenges. And in the age of social media, most of these issues are more prevalent than they’ve ever been. There is so much pressure on girls today to be thin and popular, and these expectations are rampant all over Tik Tok and Instagram.
What’s more, kids are using social media at younger and younger ages these days. And the younger they are, the more difficult it is for them to understand that the standards of thinness and popularity on social media are unrealistic. It’s hard enough for adults to tell what’s real and what’s fake, but it’s even harder for children. As a result, many girls feel like they’re not good enough because they compare themselves to what they see on social media.
Low Self-Esteem Is An Epidemic Among Young Girls
In fact, studies have shown that most girls’ self-esteem dwindles once they reach middle school.* As they get older, many of them quit sports and other physical activities because of body-image issues. Many of them also struggle with these challenges in isolation because they feel like no one understands them, which is why it’s so important for young girls to see a therapist.
As a practice, we used to see low self-esteem mainly in teen girls. But now, we’re starting to see more of it in younger girls, too, due to the prevalence of social media and the increasing pressure on kids to have it all together. That’s why we are so passionate about giving girls a space to be themselves and let go of external pressures.
Therapy Can Help Children Improve Their Self-Worth And Increase Their Social Skills
At Empowered Connections, our staff is full of girl experts who have experience working with both young girls and teen girls. We choose therapists who are warm, bubbly, and good with kids, ensuring that your daughter feels safe and comfortable in sessions with us. Many of our therapists use games and activities (painting, craftmaking, friendship bracelets, etc.) to make therapy fun and engaging. The girls we see love this approach and usually open up very quickly because of it.
Although we go out of our way to make therapy child-friendly, we also strive to help girls accomplish meaningful goals in their time here. Our counseling sessions often focus on empowering girls to boost their confidence, reduce their social anxiety, overcome self-harm, and enjoy better relationships with others.
Most importantly, we help girls learn to love themselves exactly as they are instead of trying to be who society or social media says they should be. Once they feel better about themselves, it becomes much easier for them to lead happier and fuller lives.
What To Expect In Child Counseling Sessions
We use a family approach to counseling here at Empowered Connections, collaborating with parents and guardians to ensure that each child gets the most well-rounded care possible. Generally, we like to hold parenting sessions once every three sessions or so. The goal of these sessions is to give you a chance to talk about your daughter’s progress and equip you with parenting skills that you can use with them at home.
In sessions with your child, we will help them manage their big feelings, better their communication skills, and develop a more positive perspective on life. We’ll give them handouts and homework that they can use to improve their self-esteem and give them a toolbox of skills that they can access when they’re feeling low. We have registered art therapists on staff who bring art and creativity into the therapy space, allowing children to work through emotions that they can’t put into words. Some of our therapists also draw from Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), which can help children challenge negative beliefs and understand that they are good enough just as they are.
By using a wide range of approaches and activities, our therapists have been able to help so many girls decrease their anxiety and feel more hopeful about the future. We are confident that we can do the same for your daughter.
You May Have Some Questions About Counseling For Children….
What will I do when my child is in sessions?
We always encourage parents to be at the office while their children are in sessions, since this is a chance for them to have a moment to themselves. Our office has a waiting room that is cozy and decorated like a house, with a coffee bar and comfortable seating arrangements. We want parents to be able to unwind and relax, which is why our office is nothing like a typical waiting room!
How involved will I be in my child’s therapy?
As involved as you want to be! In general, most of the girls we see find relief a little sooner when their parents are involved. We love working with parents who want to sit with us for the first five minutes of a session, as it gives us a chance to talk to them about their concerns. That said, how involved you are can vary depending on the age and needs of your child. If your child is on the older side, there’s nothing wrong with letting them have more independence in therapy.
What if my child doesn’t want to come to therapy?
Therapy with us is full of fun games and activities and our therapists know how to make kids feel welcome and at ease. What’s more, you can reassure your daughter that you will be in the waiting room when they’re in sessions, and you are also welcome to attend therapy with them if that makes them feel comfortable.
Set Your Child Up To Thrive
If you want your child to gain skills that can benefit them for years to come, we encourage you to pursue counseling with us. To get in touch with one of our child counselors, contact us and book an appointment. We look forward to hearing from you!
*https://www.northwell.edu/katz-institute-for-womens-health/articles/girls-self-esteem
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Therapy For Children In Leonardtown, MD
25482 Point Lookout Rd #202,
Leonardtown, MD 20650
Therapy For Children In Dunkirk, MD
2972 Penwick Ln Suite 101,
Dunkirk, MD 20754
Therapy For Children In Bethesda, MD
4416 East-West Hwy Suite 205,
Bethesda, MD 20814
