Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Ridgefield Park, NJ.

Small children aged 3 to 8 typically do not participate in family therapy because the vast majority of therapists consider such children too young to articulate their feelings or understand complex patterns of behavior. Butler thinks otherwise, as she perfects her skills using an approach called narrative therapy. Often described as “post-modern,” narrative therapy allows clients to put away old, tired versions of the stories they tell themselves [and everybody else] about their lives. Playing more to the clients’ strengths than their weaknesses, the approach urges clients to see themselves as much more than the presenting problem and to identify ways in which they are already taking steps

Is your child bullied or isolated from others? Is your child reluctant to go to school, has trouble making friends, or seems withdrawn and lonely? Many children have trouble with self confidence, anxiety or social skills. Improving self esteem, emotional regulation, and social skills deficits in the younger years reduces difficulties later. We all want the best for our children, and as a parent myself I know how it can hurt to watch your child suffer and not know how to help. Find out how your child can be helped by in-person counselling, online coaching, or online educational programs.

Whether your child is experiencing anxiety, frequent tantrums, challenges in school, changes in their mood, friendship difficulties, trauma, low self-esteem, or they are processing family changes, I can help. I have extensive experience working with children in mental health clinics and in school settings. I’ve completed intensive postgraduate clinical training in Child and Adolescent Psychodynamic Psychotherapy. I have advanced training in Play Therapy, and I hold certificates in Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, and the Creative Arts Therapies. But most importantly, I can help your child express their feelings, uncover bravery, and begin to heal.

Often times children are struggling with issues in their own life and cannot communicate their need for help. It is a parent's job to recognize when something is not right. Helping children identify problems and work through them is a skill that lasts a lifetime. My work with children is based on trust. Only when they feel safe will they begin to reveal their inner thoughts and fears. This is achieved mainly through play therapy and parent child sessions.

Wise parents bring young children in for counseling for both preventative mental health, and early intervention before problems become entrenched. I work successfully with young children and their families with eating disorders, behavioral problems, attention deficit disorder, school avoidance and school phobia, difficulties with peers, siblings, and parental relationships. I also work with children challenged or frightened by medical symptoms and problems, and help families to learn strategies to cope and transform the challenges into experiences that lead to strength and family cohesiveness.

When children have problems, those problems are directly related to their relationship with their parents. Hence, my approach to working with children is to work with the whole family. If a child is acting up at school, he generally has parents who are, often unintentionally, not giving him what he needs at home. All parents want to believe that they are good parents, and it is hard for them to accept that they may be doing things that are causing their children to have problems. My job is to gently and patiently create a constructive atmosphere and honest communication between parents and children, which help the children resolve their problems and learn to thrive.

The most malleable of us all. Therefore, that segment of our society that can be most easily molded, sculpted. Since the sculptist is almost always the parents their cooperation in the therapy process cannot be emphasized enough. They are makers or breakers of it. That is why the creation of a trusting alliance with them is critical. However, respecting the boundaries and confidentiality too of the child's work (therapy) with myself. The child is allowed to express, within reason, their individuality. Encouragement is given for adaptive risk-taking and self-soothing mechanisms. I create, a safe, predictable, environment.

As a family therapist, I will work with young children, however, this is always done in the context of family therapy. I try to understand what else is happening in the family, and how it may be impacting the child (children). Is there conflict between the parents? Has there been a loss of a loved one? Young children don't always have the language to express their feelings. Parents may also have unresolved issues from their own childhoods which may emerge. Often, much of the work will end up being with the parents, not because they are "bad parents," but because they are the most important people in their children's lives!

Our music therapists specialize in reaching young children, including those with autism, ADHD, trauma, William's Syndrome, Down's syndrome, and much more. Our therapists are highly trained and can tailor functional goals to any child. Our individualized music exercises can address attention, self expression, coping strategies, social skills, functional speech, and more!

When a child is presented for treatment barring organic causes, the first question one asks, " Who has the problem?" Is it the child, parents, school or the interactions of all?" After interviewing the child and parents (conducted in both family and individual sessions), I present the parents with an evaluation. Dependent on the severity of the child's problems and the ability of the parents to mobilize their parenting skills, it is decided to address the presenting problems with individual sessions as well as family sessions. My attempt is to minimize the treatment of the child and enable the parents to learn to parent through "Creative Loving" (a program that Dr. PItta created).

I have a doctorate in child psychology, and have been a school psychologist, both diagnosing learning problems and doing counseling. I work closely with the parents, and in many cases would not treat the child directly. I usually focus on and get to know the parent, how I can best support them as a parent, as a spouse, and as a person in the world. And, I work with parents so that we are a team together helping you to do the best thing for your child or children.

Many times, child therapists overdo the family system in their quest to seek effective solutions for emotional, learning or behavioral concerns with young children. And many times doctors overpathologize issues that shouldn’t be medicated necessarily. This leaves parents wondering what is the best route for their child? Introducing brainwave optimization technology. A fast, effective, natural, and less expensive way to allow your child's brain to make the optimizing changes it desires to make---on its own! Without any external force, opinion, medication, diagnostic, etc. Contact kevin@kevinflemingphd.com or 877-606-6161.

Young children in particular need to feel safe and have fun to be interested in psychotherapy. If not, they do not relax and open up. Instead, they spend their sessions avoiding and denying their problems. Often, the therapist and parent spend wasted time pleading, prodding, and cajoling the child to participate in an honest thoughtful manner. My child-friendly methods are purposely compelling to young children. Many are so excited to come to therapy they run up the stairs and and through the hallway to my office; necessitating me to accommodate other tenants by posting signs discouraging such behavior.