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Children (ages 10-12)

Therapists In Denver And Nearby Specializing In Children (ages 10-12)

Children and Mental Health (Ages 10-12)

According to the National Institute of Mental Health, mental health is an important part of overall health for everyone, including preteens (children ages 10 through 12). 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 preteens 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 adolescence 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 adolescent will grow out of it,” but that is not always the case. There are many reasons parents choose to take their adolescent to therapy. Some of these reasons look similar to those seen in adults. Here are some of the more common reasons and signs that lead parents to begin child counseling:

  • Smoking, drinking or are using drugs
  • 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
  • Worries of weight gain- dieting or excessively working out
  • 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
  • Spending an increased amount of time alone- withdrawing from social activity they used to enjoy

Types of Childhood Therapy

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

  • Play therapy
    • In play therapy, a therapist interacts with the adolescent by interpreting play behavior and communication. The therapist watches the adolescent to better understand their emotional and mental health. Therapists use different types of adolescent’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 preteens are taught how their own thoughts can affect their mood and behavior. Preteens 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 adolescent’s age. In this type of therapy, therapists listen to the adolescent talk through their issues, with the theory in mind that once the struggles have been spoken out loud, the adolescent’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 preteens 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 an adolescent’s strengths and weaknesses. 

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

Jon Minifie standing outside wearing a white shirt
Jonathan Minifie , LPC

Offers sessions in-person and online

Additional ratings needed to generate average

Jonathan C. Minifie has more than 20 years of experience working with adolescents. He has worked extensively with adolescents and individuals...

Gender: Man

Pronouns: Prefer not to Share

  • 9362 Teddy Ln., #206, Lone Tree, CO 80126

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

Theresa_Palermo_headshot
Theresa Palermo , LCSW

Offers sessions in-person and online

Additional ratings needed to generate average

Seeing patients over 9 years old.

Theresa Palermo earned her Bachelors Degree from the University of Maryland in College Park in 1988. Afterwards, she spent several years...

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: She/Her

  • 1120 W. South Boulder Road, Suite 101, 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

Susan Monahan Headshot
Susan Monahan , LCSW

Offers sessions in-person and online

- Average patient rating

Susan Monahan is licensed therapist specializing in marriage therapy and couples counseling, child therapy, adolescent therapy, EMDR,...

Gender: Woman

Pronouns: She/Her

  • 200 Union Blvd. Suite 200, Lakewood, CO 80228

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