Child Behavior Counseling

What is Behavior Counseling?

• Behavioral counseling is not for children with minor behavioral problems. Behavioral issues are generally a normal part of development and do not always require professional counseling. There are cases, however, where children struggle with significant issues that may require professional intervention to correct. Such issues could include autism, ADD/ADHD, anxiety, depression, aggression, or a lack of coping skills. The type of counseling received by a child with behavioral struggles depends on the specific issue the child is experiencing.

Behavior Counseling for Autism

• If a child has been diagnosed with autism, he would likely take part in a therapy known as Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA). ABA therapy is intended to help the child learn new “socially significant behaviors” that will assist him in his daily life. These behaviors can include social skills, academic skills, self-control, self-monitoring, and the incorporation of learned skills across many different settings. Progress is closely monitored, and the behavioral goals gain complexity throughout the course of the therapy.

Behavior Counseling for ADD/ADHD

• Behavioral therapy for those living with ADD or ADHD often focuses on encouraging positive behavior through choice and consequence exercises. Children are rewarded for good behavioral choices, and limits and consequences are firmly upheld for negative behavioral choices. Most often, behavioral programs for children with ADD/ADHD are customized to meet each individual child’s needs. The program is put together with input from both the parents and a licensed therapist.

Cognitive Behavior Counseling

• Cognitive Behavioral Counseling is geared toward children who struggle with issues such as anxiety, depression, or aggression or who lack coping skills. This therapy is intended to help modify a child’s way of thinking in order to control her cognitive struggles. Much of the therapy involves teaching children to guide themselves through situations using methods such as self-talk or self-instruction. Children are taught how to identify unhealthy thought patterns and redirect them, and they are given techniques to help guide them through their individual struggles.

Choosing a Behavior Therapist

• Behavior therapy is a broad field, and as a result there are a wide range of qualified professionals who specialize in many different areas. When choosing a therapist, be sure to first consider the type of counseling your child needs. Make sure your potential therapist is qualified and experienced in that area. Ask your family doctor for a recommendation, if needed. Once therapy begins, make sure that both you and the therapist agree on the purpose of the therapy and the desired behavioral outcomes for your child. Establishing this information in the beginning may help prevent later problems.