The father of the righteous will greatly rejoice; he who fathers a wise son will be glad in him. –Proverbs 23:24

It is no secret that raising children to love and fear God can be challenging even in the best of times. The world in general – and our society in particular – does nothing to encourage a Christian worldview, and frequently encourages values that are directly opposed to it.

Besides, we must contend with the finitude and sinful natures of both ourselves and our children, making parenting seem a daunting task, at best. The good news is that God has not left us to flounder around and try to figure out Christian parenting on our own. He has given us His very words in the Bible and fellow Christians to help us along the way. Lake Forest Christian Counseling can help. If you’re looking for a licensed child counselor in Lake Forest, we can help you develop the tools to grow closer to Christ and to raise your children to love and follow God.

Seeking Christian counseling for your child can raise more questions than it answers. If you have never had experience with counseling, you may wonder what sessions are like and what your role will be.

Christian Counseling Methods for Children

Each counselor will tailor the counseling sessions to best suit your child’s needs. Your child’s counselor will consider the age of your child, whatever symptoms they may be experiencing, and any concerns you, as the parent, might have.

There are two main counseling approaches for children:

Play Therapy for Children

The first is what is called Play Therapy. This kind of therapy makes use of toys and games as a means of interaction between the child and the counselor. When combined with conversation, Play Therapy creates a safe place for the child and demonstrates that therapy can be fun.

The themes and motifs that are played out in Play Therapy can tell a counselor much about what a child is thinking and feeling. It provides a safe and healthy way for the child to express the positive, negative, and even painful emotions they may be feeling.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)

The second main approach is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT),which is typically employed with children who have been the victims of some sort of trauma or abuse. Its purpose is to determine the best methods for managing the negative thoughts and emotions that are a result of the trauma or abuse. It makes use of art therapy, conversation, and self-soothing techniques to employ whenever memories of the trauma or abuse surface.

At Lake Forest Christian Counseling, the professional child counselors have experience in treating children of all ages for a large variety of mental health issues and are skilled at getting them to open up about their feelings. This enables us to know how best to help your child, enabling them to live happier lives and form stronger relationships.

Our children are our future, and so we are committed to building a strong generation who love and obey God. We desire to see parents and their children successfully navigate the childhood years and overcome any issues through the power of the Holy Spirit and Christian counseling for children.

For more information or to schedule an initial risk-free session, contact us today.