How Counseling Helps Children Resolve Behavior Issues
Most parents discipline their children to instill values and to improve behavior. 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’d expect. It is important to acknowledge that they may not purposely be difficult. Their behavior can be their way of telling you that something is not right.
Having a child with behavior concerns can complicate your family relationships. If behaviors go unaddressed, your child may also carry their concerning behaviors into adulthood. Rather than feeling hopeless, stressed, or exasperated, you have the option to seek counseling for your child. A counselor can work with you and your child to improve their behaviors and learn healthier coping skills.
Understanding Child Behavior
Most parents have difficulty recognizing the difference between “normal” behavior and real behavioral problems. This is because only a thin line divides them in young children. For instance, it is considered “normal” for preschool children (two to four years old) to occasionally exhibit tantrums and defiance. However, if tantrums are frequent and intense there may be cause for concern.
A child’s” normal” behavior generally depends on their developmental stage, and each child is different. 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 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.
These factors and influences make each child unique, which is wonderful but can further complicate things. This means that while it is expected for a school-aged child to exhibit some naughtiness, extreme and frequent misbehavior cannot be ignored because it could be a sign of something more. 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 can be difficult to spot the signs indicating that your child may be struggling. Some behaviors are easier to spot because they are very disruptive and intense, such as tantrums, hostility, defiance or intentionally breaking rules. There are also behaviors that are more challenging to interpret, including angry outbursts, 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, signs of distress, anxiety, sadness, hopelessness, or helplessness. If your child has experienced a challenging life event such as parental separation/divorce, loss of a loved one or pet, a serious ailment, bullying or abuse, etc.—it can be proactive to seek early intervention.
Counseling: When and Where
If your young child exhibits concerning behaviors, seeking counseling can be important. Early intervention is often best even when it is not clear to you what is contributing to their behavioral concerns. Justifying their misbehavior won’t help. Therapy may be a straightforward solution, call Carolina Counseling Services – Pittsboro, NC.
The Child Mind Institute says that younger children tend to be responsive to therapy. Their behavior may not just be a passing stage, and waiting it out may not be prudent. Child psychologist Dr. Melanie Fernandez says acting promptly can be best “the longer that maladaptive behavior goes on, the harder and more stressful it is for parents to turn around.” CCS is here to help. Call today to schedule your first appointment.