Counseling for Children

Has your child been experiencing behavioral or emotional difficulties for more than a few weeks?
Have you become exhausted trying to figure out the right way to communicate with them only to become more and more frustrated?
Is this causing problems with your child’s functioning at home, in school, or with their friends?

As a parent, it’s not always easy to tell when a child’s behavior is just a phase or if there is something more serious going on. It can be very difficult to distinguish between typical developmental behaviors and if those emotions are a reason for concern. 

If not addressed properly, these problems can actually have long-term effects on your child’s development. The good news – If you’re reading this, you’re already taking a proactive step in supporting the change that your child needs. Early therapeutic interventions give us a major advantage in effectively treating and changing problematic thoughts, emotions, and behavioral cycles.

At our counseling center, it’s part of our mission to help parents in distress. You should never feel guilty or ashamed for seeking professional help because there is no such thing as “the perfect parent.” We use a multidisciplinary counseling approach to include the parent, along with the other primary caregivers in the household. This allows you to have an active role in the treatment of your child.

Get Started

Counseling Helps Problematic Behaviors in Children

  • Distracted with intense worries or fears
  • Irritability, temper tantrums, major emotional outbursts
  • Difficulty concentrating at school, or recent drop in grades
  • Problems sitting still unless playing games or watching videos
  • Difficulty making or keeping friends
  • Issues with sleeping too little or too much
  • Unusually low energy levels
  • Physical symptoms such as headaches and upset stomach without known medical cause

Counseling Helps Problematic Behaviors in Children

  • Distracted with intense worries or fears
  • Irritability, temper tantrums, major emotional outbursts
  • Difficulty concentrating at school, or recent drop in grades
  • Problems sitting still unless playing games or watching videos
  • Difficulty making or keeping friends
  • Issues with sleeping too little or too much
  • Unusually low energy levels
  • Physical symptoms such as headaches and upset stomach without known medical cause

What is the Process of Counseling for My Child?

The first session is between the parent(s) and the therapist for 50 minutes where our licensed mental health counselor will meet with you and/or your partner  to do a complete comprehensive clinical intake interview to discuss everything and anything of importance about your child’s social, biological, and psychological well-being over the years all the way to present day emotional and/or behavioral problems. Asking these questions help us understand your child’s behavioral responses, how they communicate and how they perceive themselves. This conceptualization helps us come up with a starting point for the most efficient and effective treatment plan for your child. When preparing for this interview, consider any developmental milestones, medications, or triggers. We also consider diet, sleep patterns, and energy levels, as well as relationships with friends, family, teachers, and siblings. The first session last 60 minutes and in this time it is our hopes that you’ll leave feeling confident and happy that our licensed therapist is the expert for your child.

The following 50 minute session between the therapist and your child will be scheduled on the same day or on separate days. We do whatever we can to accommodate busy school and work schedules. This follow up session is where process of psychotherapy begins.

Counseling for Children is Proven to Help:

Counseling for Children is Proven to Help:

Child Therapy Experts in St. Petersburg, FL

As a counseling center located in the heart of downtown St. Petersburg, we understand how common, yet complex, childhood problems can be. The team of McNulty Counseling and Wellness is honored to make a difference in the behavioral and emotional disorders for our community’s children.

We’re the number one referral for many local schools, and have a close relationship with the faculty and staff. With your informed consent, we’re able to offer a one on one, fully comprehensive treatment model for your child. This provides guidance to you as parents, and ensures your child is as comfortable as possible in and out of the classroom. If certain accommodations are needed for your child to succeed, we are happy to speak with the school on your child’s behalf.

Meet our Team Specializing in Counseling for Children

Ready to Talk?

You’ve Already Taken the Brave First Step— Contact Us Today to Start the Rest of Your Life.

Let’s Talk