10 Types of Therapies for Kids and How They Can Help

It can be hard to know where to start when it comes to finding the right therapy for your child. With so many options, it can be overwhelming trying to figure out which one is best for your little one.

Therapy is a great way to provide support for your child and can be incredibly helpful in helping them cope with difficult life events or challenges. Here are 10 types of therapies for kids that could help your child:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

CBT is a type of therapy that focuses on teaching children to recognize and change negative thinking patterns in order to improve their behaviour and emotion regulation skills. It helps them become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, as well as how they can modify them to improve their overall well-being.

CBT can be used to help children with anxiety, depression, anger management issues, and other mental health concerns. For instance, it can help children learn how to manage their emotions better, identify triggers for certain behaviors, and develop healthy coping strategies.

2. Play Therapy

Play therapy is a type of therapy that uses play as the primary form of communication between the therapist and the child. This type of therapy utilises playing activities as a way to understand and work through the child’s thoughts and feelings.

Play therapy is often used to help children who have experienced trauma, have difficulty making friends, or are struggling with behavioural issues. This type of therapy is beneficial for helping children express themselves in a safe and non-threatening environment.

3. Family Therapy

Family therapy is a form of psychotherapy that focuses on the interactions between family members in order to address issues within the family dynamics.

This type of therapy can help children learn how to appropriately express their feelings, develop positive coping strategies, and build stronger relationships within their families.

With BetterHelp couple therapy and family therapy, parents and children can work together to understand each other’s perspectives, build positive communication skills, and resolve conflicts in a healthy way.

This type of therapy helps families create stronger bonds and better parenting practices that foster growth and resilience for all involved.

4. Art Therapy

Art therapy is a form of expressive therapy that uses art as the primary medium for communication and healing. This type of therapy can help children to express their feelings, process emotions, and improve their self-esteem by allowing them to create and share art.

Art therapy is often used to address trauma, grief, and behavior issues in children. This type of therapy allows them to express themselves in a non-verbal way and can provide insight into their thoughts and feelings.

5. Music Therapy

Music therapy is an evidence-based therapeutic approach that uses music to help children develop and improve their emotional, physical, cognitive, and social skills. Music therapy can be used to address a variety of issues, such as anxiety, depression, behaviour problems, autism spectrum disorders, and more.

Music therapy helps children learn how to regulate their emotions by providing them with an outlet for self-expression. It also gives them a safe and creative space to explore their feelings in a non-threatening way.

6. Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT)

DBT is an evidence-based therapy that combines cognitive behavioural techniques with mindfulness practices to help children manage emotions, change behaviours, and cope better with difficult situations.

This type of therapy helps children become more aware of their thoughts and feelings, as well as how they can modify them to improve their overall well-being.

DBT is often used to help children with anxiety, depression, anger management issues, and other mental health concerns. It helps them learn healthy coping strategies and build self-esteem.

7. Narrative Therapy

Narrative therapy is a type of psychotherapy that focuses on exploring the stories and narratives around someone’s life experiences. This type of therapy helps children gain insight into their life experiences, as well as how they can make positive changes to their current situation.

Narrative therapy is particularly helpful for children who are dealing with trauma,  low self-esteem, and difficulty processing their emotions. This type of therapy helps them to gain a greater understanding of themselves and the world around them.

8. Solution Focused Therapy

Solution-focused therapy is an evidence-based approach that focuses on helping children identify solutions for current problems rather than dwelling on past events or issues. This type of therapy helps them develop coping skills, create achievable goals, and work through challenging issues in their lives.

Solution-focused therapy is beneficial for children who are struggling with behavior problems or emotional difficulties. It enables them to focus on the positive aspects of their life and gives them practical tools to help them cope better with difficult situations.

9. Animal-Assisted Therapy

Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) is a type of therapeutic intervention that uses animals like cats or dogs as part of the therapeutic process. AAT has been shown to be particularly beneficial for young children due to its ability to provide unconditional love and acceptance, which helps build trust between the child and therapist while at the same time allowing the child to have fun during sessions.

AAT helps kids learn important social skills like empathy while also providing calming effects via a physical touch from animals, which can help reduce stress levels naturally over time.

10. Group Therapy

Group therapy is a type of psychotherapy that involves working with a group of people to address issues related to mental health. Group therapy can be an effective treatment for children who are struggling with social anxiety, low self-esteem, and other behaviour problems.

In group therapy, children are able to work on communication skills, build social relationships, and learn how to cope better with difficult situations. This type of therapy helps children gain a greater understanding of themselves and their relationships while providing them with support from peers in similar circumstances.

Conclusion

There are many different types of therapies available for kids depending on their needs and preferences, but these eight types are some of the most popular ones used today.

Whether your child needs help managing stress levels or improving communication skills, there’s sure to be something here that will work well for them. Each type offers unique benefits, so why not give one (or more!) a try and see if it helps?