child therapy

How Play Therapy Can Improve Your Child’s Mental Health

How Play Therapy Can Improve Your Child’s Mental Health

Play therapy is a form of therapy primarily used for children. Due to their age, many children are unable to process their own emotions and articulate their problems to parents or other adults. Therefore, play therapy swoops in to save the day!

While, on the surface, play therapy may just look like normal playtime, it is actually so much more than that. A trained child therapist uses playtime to observe and gain insight into your child’s issues. Your play therapist for kids helps your child explore their emotions and even deal with any unresolved trauma they may be experiencing. Through play, your child learns how to redirect any inappropriate behavior and gains new coping skills that you can utilize through many life transitions.

Parenting A Child With ADHD

Parenting A Child With ADHD

Life with a child or teenager with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) can be troubling and overwhelming at times. It is not traditional child rearing. Typical rules and household routines can seem impracticable in your situation, depending on your child’s symptoms. Therefore, different approaches may have to be embraced. It can be hard to cope with some of your child’s behaviors, but there are always ways to make improvements and, ultimately, make life for your family easier.

As a parent, you can help your child overcome daily struggles by guiding them on how to channel their energy into positive forces. This step alone will bring greater serenity to your family. The earlier and more consistently you address your child’s issues by seeking the help of a professional, the better off your child will be. If you continue to let the problems linger, it can unfortunately cause bigger problems down the road which will negatively impact your child’s development and delay their mental and behavioral success.

How Does Child Play Therapy Work?

How Does Child Play Therapy Work?

As an adult, when you are not feeling as if you are performing at an optimal level or you stop trying hard to be the best version of yourself, it is possible to express the situations and/or emotions that are negatively impacting you. Although it may not always be easy, adults have the ability to recognize and communicate any emotional or mental health problems they may be going through. On the other hand, children do not have that capacity. While some children may simply be too young to be able to reveal their feelings, there are several reasons why emotional disclosure may not be occurring. Some children may struggle to verbally express themselves, some may be introverted, and some may feel too vulnerable sharing their troubles. While adults express themselves by talking, children speak the language of play. Therefore, play therapy can be extremely helpful in assisting in the exploration of your child’s worries since it is an activity that feels comfortable to them.

Child play therapy is a type of therapy tailored for children. This form of child counseling uses play to investigate children’s emotional and mental health problems. Children survey their feelings through play and share them with their therapist. Play therapy counseling is an effective approach to kid therapy that enhances children’s standard communication and learning processes. Child play therapy gives kids the opportunity to explore their emotions while creating solutions to their problems. Many children are frightened by the typical hospital or clinical environment or unwilling to express their emotions in this type of setting, so play therapy is the perfect resolution!

3 Ways to Help Your Child Express and Manage their Emotions

3 Ways to Help Your Child Express and Manage their Emotions

While parenting is one of the most rewarding gifts in the world, it can be undoubtedly difficult at times, particularly if you are dealing with a child who may act out. Meltdowns happen, especially with toddlers, but, for some children, emotional outbursts and impulsive reactions may persist. Crying is a normal response to overwhelming feelings, such as stress, irritability, and fright, regardless of age; however, some children may cry more often, get excessively passionate, and reach a level of annoyance quicker than other kids.

Emotional control is the capacity to govern emotions to:

  • Reach goals

  • Finish duties or chores

  • Manage behavior

Anchor Therapy is moving to Hoboken!

Anchor Therapy is moving to Hoboken!

Excited to announce that Anchor Therapy is moving to downtown Hoboken March 1st!

We will be located at 223 Bloomfield Street, Suite 121 in Hoboken.

We will continue to specialize in helping children, adolescents, and young adults.

Anchor Therapy is honored to be voted BEST Wellness Center in Jersey City for 2017!!

Anchor Therapy is honored to be voted BEST Wellness Center in Jersey City for 2017!!

Thank you to our community members for voting Anchor Therapy as the best wellness business in the Jersey City area for 2017 on Hoboken Girl! Out of all of the different types of wellness businesses out there, we are excited to see that psychotherapy services are recognized as an important aspect of the community.

How Do I Help My Teen Feel Less Overwhelmed?

How Do I Help My Teen Feel Less Overwhelmed?

When you are a parent of a teen or adolescent in high school, the end of the year can be a stressful time for multiple reasons. As a parent, you might notice that your child, or adolescent, is struggling to juggle college applications, school work, after school activities, and family time. This might be the perfect time to have your child seek out a teen therapist.

Is My Child Clinically Depressed?

Is My Child Clinically Depressed?

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY CHILD HAS DEPRESSION OR IS JUST "MOODY"? DO I NEED TO BRING MY CHILD TO A THERAPIST? WHAT DOES IT MEAN IF MY CHILD IS CONSTANTLY AGITATED?

What Is Play Therapy and How Can It Help My Child?

What Is Play Therapy and How Can It Help My Child?

How can playing with games and toys help my child's mental health? Am I paying for a glorified babysitter? Why does my child say therapy is fun? 

10 Ways to Self Diagnose an Anxiety Disorder

10 Ways to Self Diagnose an Anxiety Disorder

Do you find yourself feeling anxious, nervous, identify as "type A", or feel you have OCD? Do your friends, family, or others tell you that you are too "wound up"? Is it possible for a child to be diagnosed with an anxiety disorder?

Do Fidget Spinners Really Help With Anxiety?

Do Fidget Spinners Really Help With Anxiety?

The new hot topic has been fidget spinners. Should I buy one for my child? Should I allow students to have them in the classroom? Does it help college students focus? Will it stop me from having a panic attack? What the heck even IS a fidget spinner?

Welcome!

Welcome to Anchor Therapy's new blog section! I will be posting modern psychology information and tips. Some topics will include how you can feel less anxious, about telehealth sessions (video therapy), and how mental health is viewed in media & pop culture today. Feel free to add your email to the subscription list down below. 

Look out for new blog posts coming soon!

Courtney Glashow, LCSW