Children’s Mental Health
As a child from the moment you wake up to the time you go to sleep you feel like you are not yourself. Being a kid you feel like you’re constantly on the go and being told what to do without being given any choices or say on what you want. You feel stuck, no matter how much you scream, no one seems to understand. As a child the adults remind you that everything they do is to help you, but no one seems to know what to do when you are truly in distress. Whether you are struggling with communicating, controlling your anger, understanding friends, anxiety, depression or finding balance, no one seems to have the answers. Your home life is not picture perfect, you are struggling in school both to keep up with the homework and keep up with your peers.
You’re tired of being or feeling like the “bad kid.”
As a parent you may feel like you have lost your child.
You have such difficulty communicating about simple tasks that attempting to talk to your child about feelings and future goals/plans seems daunting. You feel like you have done everything to raise your child in the most positive way but now you feel completely defeated. As the parent you feel like you're constantly repeating yourself and no one is listening. Parenting is not easy and it does not come with a manual. Parenting expectations have changed and sometimes it is important to realize the benefits of getting a little extra help. The idea of a super parent can be overwhelming especially when seeing the perfect parent displayed in the media.
I help children find their voice and reflect on how to react positively to the world around them when they feel like they have no control. I take a collaborative approach with clients, parents and other social support in planning and working towards my clients goals. We choose activities and tasks for each session together where the client is in control of the work. It is not all serious talk when we work together, there can be a lot of laughter in the midst of some tears in our journey to a healthier mind. Working with me your child will experience change over time in their relationships with others and themselves. I help parents and family work together to find a better understanding of one another. If you feel ready to start taking control of your mental health or if you are ready to get your child extra support call for a free 15 min consultation.
Working with a child therapist in Orange County
Vanessa Torres, MSW ACSW