Child Counselling

Child Counselling at The Grove

The world has become a much more confusing and scary place during the past 20 years, so children and teenagers today are under more pressure than at any time in history.

In fact, one of the new challenges is that many people who grew up in earlier decades had some shielding from the worst of the world's horrors, but with 24/7 access to news information available to anyone, that's no longer a realistic possibility.

Small wonder then, that there has been such a rapid rise in the need for child counselling. Children who have access to a child counsellor are going to be better able to handle the stress of growing up in a world that can at times seem to be beyond hope.

Children are being taught that life is terrifying

The message children hear over and over is that the world is a really scary place. They're told they should worry about the environment, and are encouraged in school to imagine dystopian post-apocalyptic scenarios.

They're also warned to be afraid of strangers, be afraid of teachers, be afraid of medical personnel, and not to trust our politicians or even our emergency personnel.

Imagine what it is like to grow up in a world like that, and being constantly told that there's almost nobody you can trust.

Technology is creating new problems

Adding to the problem is that there is a constant invasion of technology into every corner of our lives.

Cyber-bullying, for example, isn't something previous generations of children had to worry about. When children of previous generations were bullied, it was still serious, but it wasn't broadcast to the whole world, and the whole world wasn't given an open invitation to join in.

So the world has really changed, and youth counselling has to change with it. One of the things that makes The Grove stand out in the field of child counselling in Melbourne is that we understand the nature of all this change and how to respond to it.

How The Grove is making a difference

The Grove Counselling offers children counselling in Melbourne for many different problems they may face, and uses innovative therapy options to help diagnose and treat behavioural disorders that may have arisen.

Counselling for children requires a cautious and sensible approach, where a therapist or counsellor must avoid leaping to premature conclusions. Patience is essential, and children must feel free to express themselves freely in a therapeutic environment.

The Grove is a leader in helping kids understand their problems, providing coping strategies, and the means for healing through holistic counselling. We have had highly successful results in separation anxiety counselling and bullying counselling for Melbourne kids.

Bullying counselling in the correct context

Most practitioners advertise bullying counselling in the context of treating victims of bullying. It's definitely important to provide counselling for victims, but we also believe it's at least as important, and probably more so, to provide counselling for the bullies themselves.

Helping kids to cope with bullying is great, and we are definitely very good at that. But isn't it also best to terminate bullying at the source? Providing the necessary treatment for one bully could save dozens of kids from having to seek treatment as victims of bullying.

This treatment also potentially saves the bully from heading forward into a life of difficult relationships.

Separation anxiety counselling

Children sometimes can be distressed when they are even temporarily separated from their primary care-giver. This is understandable (especially in light of what was said earlier with regard to that message of how scary the world is) but it also can be a problem because there are times when the separation is necessary.

Separation anxiety can be an indication that something else is wrong for the child. Separation anxiety counselling in Melbourne and other child therapies can help reveal what is actually going on. We can address the problem if we understand it.

Children aren't the only ones who suffer from separation anxiety either. Many parents can be just as distraught about being separated from their children, even when they know it is just a temporary separation and when they know the children are reasonably safe. Another form of separation anxiety is simply the fear of being alone, and this too can affect both adults and children.

A diverse mix of therapy options for your child

Children can respond to traditional counselling, but there are other options that are sometimes more helpful.

Play therapy is one of these options, and can be especially helpful in a therapeutic setting where children find it difficult to express their feelings openly.

Art therapy has also been found to be effective for some individuals, and can also be considered as a diagnostic and treatment option.

Other options can include talk therapy and expressive therapies. There is no one method that is right or wrong for every person, so it is good to have a range of options available.

Benefits Of Working With A Paediatric Counsellor

Some children can tell you what is going on in their lives, and how they are feeling. Other children find communicating more difficult. Perhaps they feel unheard, or perhaps they can’t find the words to explain. But as a caregiver, you know something has changed and would like to offer your support.

Childhood can be difficult - there are so many new situations to contend with. And when pre-teen hormones begin, it can be even tougher for your support and guidance to be accepted.

If you’re in this situation and are searching for ‘therapists for children near me’, take a look at the services offered at The Grove Counselling.

Using therapies that help the child interact and communicate, your paediatric counsellor will help your child identify and express the problems they are facing. They will also help your child trust that there is support available, and guide them through periods of intense and overwhelming emotions.

Looking for a ‘kids therapist near me’ allows you to give your child a safe space, where they can be heard without fear of judgement. And while you may not judge, a third party gives a child more confidence to express how they feel. The fear of a negative response may be as powerful to a child as the negative response itself.

At The Grove Counselling, therapists for children near me create a welcoming environment in a neutral space, allowing beneficial communication between your child and their therapist.

Issues that can affect the mental health of adults can also affect the mental health of children. The rise of social media, coupled with the heavy burden of Covid restrictions, has placed immense pressure on young people of society. Working with a paediatric therapist to identify, understand and help deal with these issues means you can support your child through these difficult years and help guide them to happy, successful adulthood.

If you are concerned about your child, make an appointment

Booking an in person child counselling session appointment with us, i is as simple as picking up the phone and calling (03) 9532 4567. Regular appointment hours are from 8am to 8pm Monday to Friday, and 9am to 3pm on Saturdays.

If necessary, you can also make special arrangements for an appointment outside our regular hours.

The Grove is located at 1 Attley Grove, St Kilda East. There is on-street parking in the local area, and we are just a short distance from Ripponlea train station. Bus and tram services also serve our location.

If you are worried about your child, don't delay seeking treatment. Any problems they may have are likely to get worse if treatment is delayed or avoided. Treating problems early can increase the possibility of successful treatment and emotional healing.

Apart from child counselling we also offer a range of other counselling services including teenage counselling, grief counselling, family counselling, depression counselling, art therapy, anxiety counselling, play therapy, phobia therapy, trauma counselling and abuse counselling