Child Therapy Program

Mental Health therapy, also known as “psychotherapy” or “counseling”, is offered at SYV Therapy for children ages 0-10. If your child is experiencing big feelings, a lack of coping skills, trauma response, anxiety, depression, self-esteem challenges, difficulty socializing in an age-appropriate manner, etc., then you may want to consider having them work with one of our therapists to learn: feelings identification, emotional regulation, coping skills, social skills, confidence building skills, and different ways to process trauma. At SYV Therapy, we believe in using an eclectic approach to therapeutic modalities, that will be tailored to each client. Some of the therapeutic modalities we use in treatment include: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Play Therapy, Sandtray Therapy, Nature Therapy, TheraPlay, FirstPlay, Animal-Assisted Therapy & Interventions, Solution Focused Therapy, and Art Therapy.

I think my child would benefit from therapy. What would that look like?

Ages 0-3: Parent-Infant/Toddler Therapy

Child is the client; however, parent participation is required for each session.

Ages 4-10: Individual Child Therapy

Child is the client and participates in sessions as an individual; however, parent involvement and check-in’s are required, if clinical judgement deems it beneficial to the child.

I’d like to prepare my child for therapy. What should I tell them? What do they do during the sessions?

SYV Therapy recommends you talk to your child in their language and at their level, in a way that you, the parent, are most comfortable. Some families like to let their child know that they will be meeting with a therapist who is a “safe and trusted adult that will teach them about their feelings, etc.”. Sessions at SYV Therapy are welcoming and comfortable, as we take a gentle approach to therapy and follow the child’s lead. The first several sessions are typically set aside for rapport building and will consist of games, arts & crafts, nature walks, book sharing, and so forth. Once the child is feeling more comfortable, sessions will continue as before, but the therapist will incorporate therapeutic interventions into activities. Older children may use worksheets, journaling, and writing prompts to explore their therapeutic needs.

How often will my child have therapy? And, how long will they be in therapy treatment?

Most children will attend therapy once a week; however, some children may be recommended for more or less, depending on a variety of factors. The length of time your child will be in therapy is impossible to know in advance. Most children receive therapy services for at least 6 months and sometimes up to a couple of years or, off and on, as needed. Your child’s therapist will let you know how their progress is going and make adjustments as they deem clinically appropriate. However, as the their parent, you have the right to terminate therapy services at any time. Note: While SYV Therapy specializes in ages 0-10, therapy services can continue past this age if they are an existing client who is making progress in therapy. It should be noted that once the child turns 12, in the State of California, they will then have to provide their own consent to treatment, resign all informed consent forms, and may elect to terminate therapy services at any point regardless if you, as the parent, feel they should continue.