Counseling for Children

We cannot shield our children from every conflict or troubling experience that this world or life may present. As parents, we embrace provision and protection as our primary responsibility, and rightly so. However, we cannot control every detail, whether known or unknown. Thankfully, God is Lord and Father of all. He not only cares for us in our parental role, but He also sees to the needs of our little ones. The licensed therapists at Thousand Oaks Christian Counseling in California offer professional counseling for children to help your child through the difficult aspects of life.

Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(805) 356-3664

The children’s counselors in Thousand Oaks are interested in engaging your child where they are. Your child’s therapist will not force your child to talk, but rather engage them by learning more about your child and what brought him or her into counseling. This often occurs through an assessment, observation, or an initial session where the therapist begins to establish a rapport with the child. Some therapists use games or some area of a child’s interest in order to foster connection. Conversation that arises through both play and talk therapy leads to establishing trust and the confidence that helps kids move forward in their counseling journey.

As a parent, you rely on your instincts and gut feelings to let you know when something needs to be addressed or adjusted with your child. As a parent who believes in Christ, you anchor those nudges in the discernment of the Holy Spirit. When it concerns your children, He will lead you into what promotes their overall health and well being.

Seeking Him and His wisdom illuminates the spiritual and practical steps to help you partner with God to raise your child, consistent with His divine plan and their natural bent. Children’s counseling at Thousand Oaks Christian Counseling in California can be an integral part of that.

The following non-exhaustive list highlights some of the times when it is useful to consider counseling for children:

● Transitions, such as moving or changing schools
● Changes in family structure and composition, such as death, divorce, marriage/re-marriage, birth and/or adoption
● Traumatic incidents
● Grief and loss, concerning a pet, friend, or family member
● Bullying
● Peer pressure
● Sibling rivalry and interactions
● Unexplained changes in mood, behavior, or disruptive behavior

Benefits of Counseling for Children

In counseling for children at Thousand Oaks Christian Counseling in California, kids learn healthy ways of expressing themselves. Working with a professional therapist offers them a safe and creative space to learn about their emotions and how to regulate them.

While many sessions may be oriented toward play, parents need not worry as this is how children learn and engage with the world. Many counselors utilize play therapy as a means of connecting with children and communicating in a way that kids can use to relate and adapt to other, more challenging areas of life. Each child’s experience with counseling will vary from one to the next, but there are a few basics that can help parents understand what to expect.

What to Expect

Having a sense of direction is key. Your child’s counselor will develop a plan that outlines the goals for your child’s counseling along with any intermediate actions steps that reflect progress. He or she will involve you, gathering information about your child’s developmental milestones, typical behaviors at home and school, and inviting you to share your observations and reflections on any changes. This isn’t designed to be intimidating, but rather an opportunity to highlight information and offer insight into the issues at hand. It is a partnership, in which your counselor collaborates with you to engage your child through developmentally-appropriate approaches to promote healing, growth, and change.

Next Steps

At Thousand Oaks Christian Counseling in California, we champion families. This includes your children’s health and well being, of which their spiritual, mental, and emotional health are at the core of a thriving and joyful life. Take time to review the resources available on this site. Then, take the next step and schedule an appointment for children’s counseling at Thousand Oaks Christian Counseling. You will be met with the empathy and support needed to guide your child and family into the next good things that God has for all of you to experience and enjoy.

Get connected with a Christian Counselor
Please contact our reception team at
(805) 356-3664