How Counseling Helps Children Resolve Behavior Issues
Most parents discipline their children to instill values and make them well-behaved. However, not all discipline methods are effective for every child. If your child has an emotional or behavioral condition, they may not respond to your kind of discipline in the way you expect. It is important to acknowledge that they may not be purposely acting difficult. The behavior can be their way of telling you that something is not right.
Having a child with behavior issues can complicate your family relationships. If they go unresolved or untreated, the child may also carry their issues into adulthood. Rather than feel hopeless, stressed, or exasperated, you have the option to seek counseling for your child. A counselor can work on unraveling the roots of your child’s behavioral issues while helping them adjust to the changes in their life.
Understanding Child Behavior
Most parents have difficulty recognizing the difference between normal behavior and real behavioral issues. This is because only a thin line divides them in young children. For instance, it is normal for preschool children (two to four years old) to occasionally exhibit tantrums and defiance. However, you may want to get professional assistance when the most frequent response you get from them is “No” or their outbursts happen with great intensity and frequency.
A child’s” normal” behavior generally depends on their developmental stage, which is never the same for every child. As they grow, they will change, making it tougher for you to recognize if they are just going through a phase or if they are struggling with an issue and need help. There are also other factors that can influence children’s development, such as their biological/physiological makeup, your own family values, and other sociocultural factors.
The complicated interactions of these influences make each child unique, but you must understand how they are growing and developing to help and support them. This means that while it is normal for a school-aged child to exhibit some naughtiness, extreme and frequent misbehavior cannot be ignored because it could be a sign of a behavioral issue or emotional condition. Know, however, that to better understand your child, you are not without options – you can seek the help of a proficient and experienced child counselor.
The Signs to Pay Attention to: Is There a Reason to Worry?
It is never easy to spot the signs indicating that your child needs help. Some behaviors are easier to spot because they are very disruptive and intense, such as tantrums, hostility, and defiance or breaking rules. There are also behaviors that are more challenging to interpret, including anger, silence, and introversion.
Though children will keep on changing as they grow up, it is prudent to pay attention to sudden or extreme changes in their behavior. If they have experienced a difficult or painful life event, it is not healthy to assume they are taking it well. According to Kidshealth, some signs that you must not ignore are “excessive anger, acting out, bedwetting or eating disorders.” Other red flags include social withdrawal, aggressiveness, mood swings, a significant drop in academic performance, and signs of distress, anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, or helplessness. If your child has experienced a tragic or devastating life event—parental separation/divorce and/or custody issues, loss of a loved one or pet, a serious ailment, bullying or abuse, etc.—it is proactive to seek early intervention once you start noticing symptoms.
Counseling: When and Where
If your young child exhibits these signs, seeking counseling is critical—the earlier the better—even when it is not clear to you what is contributing to their behavioral or emotional issues. Justifying their misbehavior won’t help. A straightforward solution is to call Carolina Counseling Services – Pittsboro, NC.
The Child Mind Institute says that younger children tend to be more responsive to therapy. This may not just be a passing stage, and waiting it out may not be prudent. Child psychologist Dr. Melanie Fernandez says acting promptly on the matter is necessary because “the longer that maladaptive behavior goes on, the harder and more stressful it is for parents to turn around.” Thus, rather than downplaying a serious concern, the best thing to do is to turn to CCS for help.
A trustworthy therapist independently contracted with Carolina Counseling Services – Pittsboro, NC, can help discover the roots of your child’s condition. With therapy and intervention, your child can be empowered to express their thoughts and emotions and to ably build a life and relationships around positive behavior. Early intervention is helpful. The sooner you call, the sooner your child gets the chance to be happier and more productive.