Call Today
Cognitive Therapy
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Children in White Plains, NY
For cognitive behavioral therapy to be successful, it’s critical for your child and our therapists to work together actively in order to have a better perception or react differently than their natural feelings.
At A and J Behavioral Health in White Plains, NY, we know this type of therapy is problem-focused and action-based. The therapist and child or adolescent develop goals for therapy together, often in close collaboration with parents, and track progress toward goals throughout the course of treatment.
Expecting Better Outcomes
For many, emotions are caused by the ways that we perceive or interpret the things that happen around us. Sometimes these thoughts may be unrealistic or unhelpful. For instance, an adolescent might interpret an unclear phone message as suggesting rejection from a friend; or he/she may perceive some physical symptoms as evidence of a serious medical problem. Others may set unrealistic expectations for themselves, or harbor concerns regarding their acceptance by their peers or others.
These types of thoughts can contribute to unrealistic, biased, or maladaptive thinking filters that contribute to negative feelings and unproductive actions. So, a teen who unrealistically perceives an unclear text message as rejection, might avoid that friend, assume the friend dislikes her, and feel sad and isolated. Cognitive therapy teaches the teen to challenge those distorted thoughts, to assess the situation more realistically, and to make decisions based on more balanced thinking.
Working with a child or teen to change their interpretations of events or sensations can lead to entirely different emotional responses!
Contact our office today and set up a consultation with one of our experienced therapists. We proudly serve White Plains, NY and are looking forward to working with you.
