Child and Teen Counseling In Federal Way

Cognitive-behavioral therapy is a specialized therapy approach that focuses on restructuring unhelpful, unhealthy, and untrue thoughts.

Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) aims to help individuals in counseling identify how their actions, thoughts, and emotions intertwine and how these aspects can greatly affect how they feel about themselves and the world around them.

How does CBT work?

CBT is incredibly popular with therapists around the world. The root of this behavioral therapy is to recognize unhelpful behavior patterns—because when we learn to change our negative thoughts and challenge untrue assumptions, we become happier and improve our quality of life.

CBT is a form of “talking therapy” where an individual works one-on-one with a counselor to change behaviors and thought patterns. CBT does not typically focus on the past or previous life traumas—rather, it seeks to help the individual move forward and have more hope about the future.

What types of problems can CBT help with or improve?

Cognitive-behavioral therapy in Federal Way can help you if you’re struggling with any of the following:

• Negative “self-talk” or habitually being unkind to yourself
• Generalized anxiety
• OCD
• Relationship problems 
• Insomnia
• Eating disorders
• Depression
• Fear and phobias
• Coping with grief 
• Work-related stress

If you’re interested in trying cognitive-behavioral counseling in Federal Way, please contact our team today!

When introducing your child to counseling, whether in Tacoma, Kent or through an online platform, it's important to demystify what happens during therapy sessions. We recommend explaining that the therapist's office is a safe space where your child can express their feelings and thoughts openly.

For in-person visits, describe the welcoming environment they'll encounter, highlighting that it's designed to make them feel comfortable and secure. If opting for online counseling, reassure them that it's just like a video call where they can talk and maybe even show their favorite toys or drawings to the therapist.

Framing Counseling in a Positive Light

Discuss child counseling and therapy as a positive journey towards feeling better. Use analogies suited to their interests to explain how talking to a therapist can help them sort through their feelings, like solving a puzzle or winning a game by learning new strategies.

Schedule Your Child's Counseling Consultation 

Children may have questions or feel uncertain about starting therapy. Encourage them to express any thoughts or worries they have. Listen attentively and answer honestly, ensuring them that it's okay to have these feelings. 

If you don't have all the answers, it's perfectly fine to say you'll find out together. This open line of communication reinforces your support and can significantly ease their apprehensions about child counseling and therapy in Tacoma and Kent.

We invite you to call us today for more information. 

As a parent, it’s only natural to worry about your child or children. If you have a teenager who’s been struggling or not acting like themselves recently, you might be considering therapy services and getting them the professional help they need. 

Knowing when to be genuinely concerned about your teen is challenging. Teenagers are notoriously moody, so how do you know if what your teen is experiencing is “just a phase” or cause for more serious concern?

Signs Your Child Might Be Struggling

The following signs are typically reliable indicators that your child is struggling with a deeper issue than just “average teenage angst” and that they could potentially benefit from professional counseling:

• Signs of self-harm or talk of suicide 
• Performing uncharacteristically poorly in school; a dramatic shift in academic performance
• Struggles with tobacco, drugs, or alcohol
• Increased isolation or withdrawal from social groups, friends, or family members
• Physical outbursts or tantrums; extreme difficulty dealing with negative emotions

If you have concerns about your child and would like to learn more about teen counseling in Federal Way, our therapists are standing by ready to help. We specialize in working with struggling teens and can provide the support, structure, stability, and resources needed to deal with life in a healthier, more productive way.

Contact Our Federal Way Counseling Office

Even if you only suspect that your teenager might need to work with a therapist, feel free to contact us at any time to get more information. 

Our licensed counselors at Thrive Counseling in Federal Way practice various approaches to therapy, including attachment-focused therapy.

Developed by British psychologist John Bowlby in the 1960s, attachment-based therapy focuses on building or rebuilding a supportive, trusting relationship to prevent or treat depression or anxiety.

Attachment-Focused Therapy Explained

Essentially, an attachment-based approach explores the link between a child's early attachment experiences with a primary caregiver—or primary caregivers—and the child’s ability to create emotionally and physically healthy relationships. 

A primary caregiver is necessary for a child’s life. It provides the support and security a child needs to explore, learn from new experiences, interact with their environment, and connect with others. Forming a trusting relationship with a parental figure or therapist can help a client form strong bonds in other relationships in their life. Attachment-focused therapy can be used in combination with other forms of counseling.  

Counseling Near Me

If you’re looking for a counselor in or around the Federal Way area, please contact Thrive Counseling Center today. We are here to help you live an emotionally healthier, more meaningful life!