Child Psychologists and Child Therapists in Paramus, NJ.

I work with chilldren 8 and up. At Resolution Counseling Center, we take a family-centered approach that relies on a strong partnership with parents. We acknowledge you as the expert on your child and the one with the power to create a healthier home and school life for them. I'll help through a thorough assessment of what's going on, play therapy and child-oriented methods, a customized plan for your child's wellness, and parent-only feedback and strategy sessions along the way. I'll walk with your family until things are in a better place--reach out anytime.

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 Is your child reluctant to go to school, has trouble making friends, or seems withdrawn and lonely?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.

We all have one common goal for our children, we want them to be happy. My work with parents and children include: provide emotion coaching for the parent and child strengthen the marital relationship in order to provide a model for healthy communication and stress management explore the impact of the parents' own childhood struggles on their capacity to parent effectively create an atmosphere where the parent and child feel respected, understood and validated improve parental understanding of their child's development designing effective behavior plans for increasing a child's positive emotions experiences and behavior

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.

My philosophy of therapy and change is that change comes from within. As a therapist, I ask a great deal in asking an individual to change, as change is an incredibly difficult task for everyone. The journey of change requires both the client and myself to work collaboratively throughout this journey. It is for this reason that the rapport between the client and myself is critical. I aim to provide all my clients with the space to explore their underlying feelings, thoughts, and behaviors so that they can engage in change.

Therapy for young children, often involving play or art, can be highly beneficial in addressing a variety of emotional, behavioral, or developmental challenges. It provides children a safe space to express their feelings and understand their experiences. Therapists help children learn to manage emotions, improve social skills, and cope with difficulties like bullying, trauma, or parental divorce. They can also aid in early detection and intervention for conditions like ADHD or anxiety. By fostering emotional resilience and self-esteem at an early age, therapy can contribute to healthier development and overall well-being in children.

Dr. Joel and Dr. Sara provide comprehensive and educative consultations with parents to better understand their children's conflicts and self-destructive tendencies. As experienced, licensed and board certified clinical psychologists--who hold advanced degrees and certifications in clinical child psychology, Dr. Joel and Dr. Sara strongly believe that, for children to improve, the initial step has to involve their parents working with compassionate, high-level psychologists who can clarify for and guide them. Although Dr. Joel a and Dr. Sara do not presently accept children as direct clients, they will help you to find appropriate referrals for individual child therapists when necessary.

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!

Research shows that cognitive behavioral therapy is an effective treatment for children with anxiety or depression. Children can learn to manage their anxiety by learning skills to change fearful thoughts and avoidant behaviors. During sessions I use the curative benefits of play therapy to foster learning and development. Play therapy can help children express what is troubling them if they lack the verbal language skills to express their feelings. Structured play therapy allows children to learn and practice problem-solving and social skills. Many issues can be confronted in play therapy and resolutions will be rehearsed and mastered into strategies your child can use after therapy ends.

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.

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

I help with children as young as nine years old learn how to feel their feelings and take personal responsibility for them rather than make others responsible for how they feel. And then how to manage, communicate and release their feelings appropriately. I also help children build higher self worth, be more compassionate with themselves and learn how to make better choices.

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.