Did the school year leave your child feeling wiped out from stress, worry, or overthinking? Did they have a difficult time staying motivated and pushing through feelings of anxiety? Did they struggle with procrastination? Was there a change in their grades? Was there an increase in isolating themselves from their peers or family? Did they become irritable or have angry outbursts? Are they sleeping too much or too little? Was there a loss of interest in activities they normally love? Do they have frequent stomach aches or change in appetite?
“Summer is a great time to get kids into counseling help them process the school year they just finished and prepare for the school year ahead.”
1 in 6 U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
50% of all lifetime mental illness begins by age 14, and 75% by age 24.
Suicide is the 2nd leading cause of death among people aged 10-34.
Only 50.6% of U.S. youth aged 6-17 with a mental health disorder receive treatment. (nami.org, 2022)
Even kids experience symptoms of anxiety and it can take a toll of their mental state. That’s where counseling can help. Giving children access to mental health services leads to better outcomes for those experiencing mental health challenges.
Connecting your child with a counselor can help kids explore and better cope with feelings of worry, overthinking, fear, motivation, procrastination, bullying, navigating friend challenges, and other social challenges.
Summer is a great time to get kids into counseling to help them process the school year they just finished and prepare for the school year ahead.
Here are some benefits of summer counseling you might want to consider:
Fewer Pressures
Summer provides opportunity for kids to get the most out of each counseling session. They have less responsibilities and pressures during the summer and arrive fresh and ready to work.
Provides Structure
Having a regular and consistent schedule for therapy sessions can provide some structure to their day and give them a sense of accomplishment.
Scheduling
Children often have more availability and flexibility in the summer to participate regularly in counseling. Plus, less school excuses.
Social Interaction
Summer can lend itself to isolation and loneliness for some children. Counseling provides for opportunities in improving interpersonal communication and working on general social skills.
Increases Emotional Intelligence
Research shows that lifelong success is predicted more by someone’s emotional intelligence, than by academic achievement. Kids can learn valuable life skills to manage stress, manage feelings, and how to regulate their emotions when faced with challenges.
“Summer counseling for kids is a great option to get ahead of the back-to-school stressors that are often compounded as the school year progresses. ”
Explore New Treatment Modalities or Complete Psychological Assessments
Having the extra time off from school allows families and kids to explore the different types of therapy available, try different therapists, establish rapport with a new therapist, adjust to newly prescribed medications, and complete the necessary psychological assessments.
Prepping for the New School Year and New School Challenges
Counseling is a good place for kids to learn skills they are missing, such as:
planning
organization
navigating bullying
handling peer pressure
making friends
the art of conversation
sharing with others
increasing impulse control
concentrating and staying on task
showing good sportsmanship
appropriate play
having flexibility in play & social situations
taking turns
noticing social cues
maintaining proper eye contact
rule following
anger control
problem-solving skills
strategies to cope with anxiety that comes along with relationships, mainstream media, social media, and academic pressures
We often see an influx of children after school starts in the fall. Summer counseling for kids is a great option to get ahead of the back-to-school stressors that are often compounded as the school year progresses. Summer is the best time to jumpstart healing and growth.
ARE YOU SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH THERAPY FOR YOUR CHILD OR TEEN SUFFERING FROM DEPRESSION OR ANXIETY?
Harvest Counseling & Wellness is a Mental Health Counseling Practice in Argyle, Texas. We provide therapy for children and teens starting at four years of age struggling with issues related to anxiety, depression, relationships, bullying, abuse, and grief. Our office is located near Denton, Highland Village, Flower Mound, Lantana, Roanoke, and Justin. If you are looking for a therapist in Denton or surrounding areas, contact us today for a complimentary phone consultation, 940-294-7061.
