Child Counseling

Great Oak Counseling is a team of highly skilled counselors specializing in child counseling, teen counseling, and adult/couple counseling. Counseling is a collaborative effort between a counselor and a client with the goal of identifying challenges and potential solutions to those problems that cause emotional turmoil or distress. Child counseling can be used to improve communication and coping skills, strengthen self-esteem, and promote behavior change and optimal mental health. The professionals at Great Oak Counseling work with children, teens, and adults with a variety of symptoms including, but not limited to, depression, anxiety, addiction, trauma, ADHD, and other mental health challenges.

 

What are the signs your child needs counseling?

This is a great question and one you might be asking yourself right now. If you think your child may benefit from counseling, we recommend reaching out to your doctor and giving our team a call at 573.271.2008. The staff at Great Oak Counseling can work with you to better understand the symptoms your child is experiencing and whether or not counseling is the right form of treatment. In general, child counseling can be helpful if you notice various signs or symptoms that are affecting your child’s ability to engage in daily activities. Child counseling can be an effective treatment for depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal ideation, personality disorders, mood disorders, PTSD, crisis, and grief/loss. It can also be helpful with a variety of childhood issues such as ADHD, reactive attachment disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and more.

 

Where can I find child or pediatric counseling near me?

At Great Oak Counseling, conveniently located just off Kingshighway in Cape Girardeau, our staff of counselors has advanced training and certification in many specialty areas, including child counseling. Our office is easily accessible from I-55 at Exit 99 or 96 and is designed to help you feel welcome and at home in a professional setting.

 

What should be expected during child counseling sessions?

Children are often best able to express themselves through creative and playful means. Child counseling takes this into account and is an approach to counseling that creates a safe and comfortable environment while giving counselors the chance to observe a child’s thoughts, behaviors, and thinking processes. This glimpse into a child’s world will help a therapist better connect with his or her patient in a way that allows great progress to occur.

 

Who are the child therapists at Great Oak Counseling?

One of the therapists at Great Oak Counseling is Dr. Janice Ward. Dr. Janice Ward is a licensed professional counselor who has worked in agencies, clinics, and schools in the Southeast Region for 20 years. During her counseling sessions, Dr. Ward uses Person-Centered and Reality/Solution Focused therapy. Plus, she employs strategies and techniques from a variety of other counseling theories in order to meet the needs of her clients. With a passion for working with children, Dr. Ward is currently in the process of becoming a Registered Play Therapist. She has experience with clients of all ages and her areas of expertise include (but are not limited to) depression, anxiety, self-harm, suicidal ideation, personality disorders, mood disorders, PTSD, crisis, and grief/loss. She also works with children and a variety of childhood issues such as ADHD, reactive attachment disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, and more. In addition, Dr. Ward has extensive experience in completing educational evaluations for learning disabilities.

 

I’m interested in child counseling. What should I do next?

If you think your child might benefit from working with a child counselor, please reach out to the team at Great Oak Counseling. To set up an appointment or ask for additional information about any of our services, please give our team a call at 573.271.2008 or send an email to info@greatoakcounseling.com. Inspired by the Great Oak tree, the staff at Great Oak Counseling believes that all people have the capacity to grow, be courageous and endure patiently and that we increase our capacity to heal and grow stronger through the challenges we experience. We look forward to hearing from you. Even if you are unsure as to whether child counseling is right for your family, our experienced counselors can help you navigate the best course of treatment for any situation.