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Children (ages 1-9)

Therapists In Denver And Nearby Specializing In Children (ages 1-9)

Children and Mental Health (Ages 1-9)

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental health is an important part of overall health for everyone, including children. Many adults who have mental disorders could have shown symptoms during childhood and adolescence that may have gone unrecognized or misdiagnosed.

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A licensed therapist or counselor can help children and families understand what is going on to effectively address issues that arise and provide the necessary support. Early treatment can help prevent more serious issues from arising in the future. In fact, when some adults reflect back on their childhood during therapy sessions, they tend to remember symptoms of their then-undiagnosed disorders and how it affected them when they were younger.

 

Common Reasons and Signs to Take your Child to Counseling

Concerned parents may hear from others that warning signs are “just a stage” or that “the child will grow out of it,” but that is not always the case. There are many reasons parents choose to take their children to therapy. Some of these reasons look similar to those seen in adolescents and adults. Here are some of the more common reasons and signs that lead parents to begin child counseling:

  • Constantly bring up things they fear and worries they have
  • Change in sleep routine- sleeping too much or too little
  • Experiencing nightmares regularly
  • Struggling at school or academically declining
  • Change in appetite- eating too much or too little
  • Acting violently towards things, other individuals or animals
  • Obsessively repeating tasks in fear that something bad will happen if they are not completed
  • Thoughts or attempts of hurting themselves or suicide
  • Being extremely irritable and easy to anger
  • Complains of physical pain, although having a healthy medical report
  • Withdrawing from social activity or friends they used to enjoy spending time with

Types of Childhood Therapy

There are various types of therapy that a therapist may choose to move forward with, depending on the child. These offer individualized options to help treat and prevent issues that a child may be showing signs of.

  • Play therapy
    • In play therapy, a therapist interacts with the child by interpreting play behavior and communication. The therapist watches the child to better understand their emotional and mental health. Therapists use different types of child’s play to help the child figure out, express and manage their feelings.
  • Cognitive-behavioral therapy
    • According to Everyday Health, this is a form of counseling where children are taught how their own thoughts can affect their mood and behavior. Children are shown how to identify these negative thoughts and patterns and replace them with positive ones.
  • Psychodynamic psychotherapy
    • Psychodynamic psychotherapy may differ based on the child’s age. In this type of therapy, therapists listen to the child talk through their issues, with the theory in mind that once the struggles have been spoken out loud, the child’s behavior will improve. 
  • Behavior therapy
    • This type of therapy is similar to cognitive-behavioral therapy, but differs in that it focuses on modifying behaviors. This type of therapy helps children and their parents identify behaviors that need to be discouraged and encouraged to help create a change. According to Everyday Health, parents may be utilized to help alter the environmental factors that may contribute to these behaviors.

Arranging Child Counseling

A thorough evaluation with a licensed professional can help parents determine whether treatment is necessary and which treatment type may be most effective. An evaluation and therapy treatments can be good avenues to learning more about a child’s strengths and weaknesses. 

Young children can be successfully treated today through various methods, including therapy and counseling. The therapists displayed below specialize in treating young children, are credentialed with various insurance companies, and have varied availability to meet most client needs.

Kellee standing outside wearing a jean jacket
Kellee Scannell , LMFT

Offers sessions in-person and online

Additional ratings needed to generate average

Prefers in-person sessions, seeing children 3-8 years old.

I hold such a strong belief that authenticity supports connection and healing. I use an attachment approach when working with children...

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: Prefer not to Share

  • 8461 Turnpike Drive, Suite 208, Westminster, CO 80031

  • 2095 W. 6th Ave Suite 212, Broomfield, CO 80020

Lisa sitting indoors wearing a blue scarf
Lisa Elsey , LPC

Offers sessions in-person and online

Additional ratings needed to generate average

Come step up your mental health with me. 25 years of experience working with children and families in many different capacities including:...

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: She/Her

  • 1901 Kipling Street, suite 230, Lakewood, CO 80215

Photo of therapist April Betty standing outdoors wearing a black top and a gray sweater
April Betty , MA

Offers sessions in-person and online

Additional ratings needed to generate average

April is a graduate of Naropa University where she earned her Master of Arts in Somatic Counseling Psychology, with a specialty in Dance/Movement...

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: Prefer not to Share

  • 2095 W 6th Ave, #212, Broomfield , CO 80020

Rachel Rossi Headshot
Rachel Rossi , LPC

Offers sessions in-person and online

Additional ratings needed to generate average

Rachel is a Licensed Professional Counselor who has been practicing therapy with children, teens, adults, couples, and families since...

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: Prefer not to Share

  • 8461 Turnpike Drive Suite 208, Westminster, CO 80031

Therapist Michael Gyorffy indoors wearing a plaid button-down shirt
Michael Gyorffy , LCSW

Offers sessions in-person and online

- Average patient rating

Hello! I have been a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) since 2007 and have been working in the mental health field for over 20 years....

Gender: Man

Pronouns: Prefer not to Share

  • 2575 Park Ln. Ste. 210, Lafayette, CO 80026

Therapist in Denver
David Karl , LPC

Offers sessions only online

- Average patient rating

David Karl is a bilingual therapist in Denver able to see English and Spanish speaking patients. English Respecting your culture, empowering...

Gender: Man

Pronouns: He/Him

  • Online Therapy Session, No Physical Location, CO

Photo of Ann Norris indoors with her chin resting on the palms of her hands
Ann Norris , LCSW / MSW

Offers sessions only online

Additional ratings needed to generate average

In my Boulder therapy practice, I am dedicated to providing a supportive, safe environment for clients to work on their own areas of...

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: She/Her

  • 2305 Canyon Blvd., Suite 101, Boulder, CO 80302

Headshot of Traci Rock outdoors sitting next to blooming flowers
Traci Rock , LCSW

Offers sessions in-person and online

Additional ratings needed to generate average

Exceptional Lakewood therapy is provided by Traci Rock, LCSW. She is a veteran therapist with special interest in children and families....

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: Prefer not to Share

  • 950 Wadsworth Blvd #202, Lakewood, CO 80214

Child and Adolescent Therapist Tracey Andrews headshot
Tracey Andrews , LCSW

Offers sessions in-person and online

Additional ratings needed to generate average

Offers gender identity sessions to kids and teens.

Child and Adolescent Therapist, Tracey Andrews, LCSW, also specializes in seeing adults suffering from problems such as depression, LGBT...

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: She/Her

  • 1805 S. Bellaire St., Ste. 219, Denver, CO 80222

Bonnie Mucklow
Bonnie Mucklow , CAS / LMFT / LPC

Offers sessions in-person and online

- Average patient rating

Online sessions not available for kids under 9 years old.

Greenwood Village therapist, Bonnie Mucklow, is a licensed marriage and family therapist (LMFT), licensed professional counselor (LPC)...

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: She/Her

  • 7000 E. Belleview Ave. Suite 203, Greenwood Village, CO 80111