School Issues Counseling
As a parent, it is natural to want the best for your child. Whether your son or daughter is a young child, teen, or young adult getting ready for college, the academic world can be hard for people of all ages. School involves much more than just academic performance- it also includes the opportunity for social interactions and personal growth.
School should be an environment built for learning and growth but, for many students, it can actually be a major source of stress. Peer pressure, academic expectations, bullying, cyberbullying, learning difficulties, and so on can make school difficult and potentially damaging to a student’s mental and physical welfare.
School challenges can manifest in the following ways:
Anxiety (Take our Anxiety Quiz)
Depression (Take our Depression Quiz)
Academic underachievement
Low self-esteem
At Anchor Therapy, our school counselors use compassion and a personalized approach to help with your or your child’s school-related problems. Our educational counselors work closely with students and their families to pinpoint the root cause of school stress and create strategic techniques to help them overcome it. We want to empower students so they feel confident to thrive in both their academic and personal lives.
What is educational counseling?
Educational therapy is a specific form of therapy that focuses on helping people with learning challenges fulfill their academic potential! Academic counseling near you combines both therapeutic and educational approaches to address your unique situation.
Whether you are dealing with an attention disorder, such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), or are experiencing emotional or behavioral issues, educational counseling can help.
Here are some reasons why your child or teen may attend educational therapy:
ADHD:
Your child or teen may struggle with impulse control, attention, and focus which can interfere with academic performance.
Learning disabilities:
If your child struggles with dyslexia (difficulty with reading), dyscalculia (difficulty with math), or another learning condition, it can affect their ability to process and retain information.
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD):
ASD can cause issues with social communication, flexibility, and the ability to adapt to new learning settings that utilize specialized instructional approaches.
Executive functioning challenges:
Executive functioning deficits may include difficulty with planning, organizing, managing your time, and other tools required for academic success.
Developmental delays:
Compared to their peers, your child may not be reaching academic milestones. This may result in your child needing tailored interventions so they can learn to the fullest of their ability.
Academic underachievement:
Sometimes, your child may be completely capable of achieving in school, but they are simply not reaching their full potential. Falling behind on homework, failing exams, and so on may require examining underlying issues.
Behavioral and emotional issues:
Behavioral problems, anxiety, and depression can trigger school issues, making it hard for your child to concentrate and perform well in school.
Social and peer challenges:
Having painful social interactions and peer relationships can shift your child’s attention away from success and academic focus.
Test anxiety:
Exam anxiety is very common for students. While it may be contributed to poor studying habits, even students who study regularly can experience test anxiety. This can all hinder academic performance.
Frequent absences:
Regularly missing school can lead to gaps in your child’s learning journey and it may even require focused support to catch up on learning material and content.
How to know when to enroll your child in educational therapy
Before enrolling your child or teen in academic therapy, it is important that you consider your child’s performance and take all factors into consideration. As a parent or guardian, you know what is best for your child. You notice almost immediately when something is off, and your child is struggling in fulfilling their potential.
Recognizing when to seek professional mental health support as a parent can be hard because there is so much on the line regarding your kid’s academic and personal development. Are my child’s struggles temporary? Or is more specialized help really needed? There are several indicators that can help you figure out if educational therapy is the right fit for your child or not.
Consistent academic struggles are probably the biggest sign that some sort of educational intervention is necessary. If your child is finding a lot of difficulty in keeping up with homework assignments, reading, doing math, or other subjects, it can be a sign that extra help is required. Perhaps this means them attending extra help sessions after school or meeting with a tutor on a regular basis.
Behavioral and emotional challenges can play a significant role in a child’s school and learning experience. If you notice your child showcasing signs of anxiety, depression, or behavioral issues, know that it can interfere with their ability to focus, participate in class, complete assignments, perform well on exams, and so on.
The following are signs of anxiety in children and teens:
Excessive worry
Irritability and mood swings
Fear and avoidance
Restlessness
School refusal
Compulsive behaviors
Physical symptoms that are not tied to a medical condition (e.g., stomachaches, fatigue, shaking, headaches, etc.)
Withdrawing from activities
Difficulty making friends
Constant need for external reassurance
Decline in school performance
Perfectionism
The following are signs of depression in children and teens:
Persistent sadness or irritability
Isolation from peers
Feelings of worthlessness
Guilt
Frequent tearfulness or crying
Loss of interest in enjoyable activities
Eating habit changes
Low energy or fatigue
Changes in movement or one’s activity level
Difficulty concentrating
Indecisiveness
The following are signs of behavioral problems in children and teens:
Physical aggression (e.g., hitting, kicking, biting, etc.)
Verbal aggression (e.g., yelling, screaming, using threatening language, etc.)
Destructive behavior
Impulsive actions
Difficulty waiting
Persistent defiance
Arguing and talking back
Blaming other people for their actions
Frequent mood swings
Lack of empathy
Truancy
Frequent outbursts
If you observe these signs in your child or teen, it is important to seek the help of a professional mental health counselor. Early intervention can get to the root cause of your child’s school concerns.
By giving your child the professional support they need and deserve, your child can learn the necessary skills needed to cope with anxiety or depression, and to manage their behavior effectively. Educational therapists can give both academic and mental health strategies to manage their emotional and behavioral problems, crafting a healthy environment that is conducive to learning.
For children with ADHD, attention and focus problems are very common. A structured and supportive environment, like ADHD counseling, can help your child with ADHD concerns, such as being able to pay attention, follow instructions, and generally stay on task. An ADHD therapist can help your child or teen improve their focus through building organizational skills.
Frequent school absences are another sign that something deeper may be going on with your child. Perhaps you are dealing with issues within the family unit. Maybe you had a close friend or relative pass away, and your child is going through the grieving process. Many times, children do not know how to showcase or process their emotions in a healthy manner which can lead to behavioral concerns and/or emotional outbursts.
School has an undeniable social component to it and, if your child is having hard social interactions or difficulty making friends, it can bleed into other areas of their life. Educational therapy can be used to help your child construct better social skills and build their overall sense of self-confidence. This will in turn help their academic and personal development.
If your child is feeling stressed or overwhelmed by schoolwork, it may lead to avoidance of certain activities or refusal to attend school altogether. An educational therapist can help your child develop healthy coping strategies, build resilience, and adopt a more positive attitude towards learning.
Last but not least, it is important to listen to feedback from those who are around your child a lot, such as a teacher or guidance counselor. If a school representative expresses concern over your child’s academic progress, social interactions, or behavior, it is worth it to consider academic therapy. Teachers are often one of the first people to pick up on a child’s struggles, and their insights can be very helpful in assisting you to make the next step in your child’s educational journey.
Private guidance counseling in Hoboken, New Jersey
At Anchor Therapy, our school therapists offer both in-person counseling sessions at our downtown Hoboken, New Jersey office as well as virtual therapy services to all residents of New Jersey, New York, and Florida.
Research shows that about 77% of students experience some sort of psychological distress, ranging from moderate to severe. Your child is not alone in their struggles, but it does not mean that they should be alone in the healing process.
When children and teenagers face academic, interpersonal, personal, and social challenges in school, there are many types of therapy that can assist them in overcoming their unique obstacles. The type of mental health counseling that your kid will receive depends on their needs, encompassing both their difficulties and personal strengths, to address school-related issues.
Social skills training often is a popular intervention for children and teens. If your child struggles with social interactions and fostering peer relationships, social skills training is the way to go. This type of therapy can help your child communicate better, pick up on other people’s social cues, and even construct healthy relationships. Social skills training can be done in an individual therapy format as well as a group counseling setting.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, simply referred to as CBT, is often boasted as the gold standard of mental health counseling. CBT can be used for school-related issues as it helps your child identify, challenge, and change negative thoughts and behaviors that are adding to their academic concerns. A CBT therapist for children will help your child replace their negative thoughts with more positive thoughts that are rooted in reality. This can help your child focus more, reduce their anxiety, and build better study habits.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy, or MBCT, incorporates mindfulness tactics into counseling to help your child manage their stress and anxiety successfully. Some techniques that your child or teen may learn to stay in the present include deep breathing, meditation, and mindful awareness. By staying focused and living in the here and now, your child can reduce the impact that stress has on their academic performance and life.
Family therapy can be helpful since it works with the entire family unit to address issues that are impacting your child’s emotional and academic health. Family counseling can give everyone a chance to enhance their communication and problem-solving skills, creating a supportive home setting where academic success and personal growth are encouraged.
Play therapy and art therapy are often used for younger children to express their emotions and experiences through the act of play or creation. These approaches help uncover underlying emotional issues that may be impacting your child’s school performance and general mental well-being. It is a safe space for your child to explore their emotions and craft some healthy coping mechanisms!
Private guidance counseling is a transformational experience for many children and teenagers. There are many benefits that your child may experience by attending therapy for school-related issues beyond just improved academic performance. Therapy for school issues gives your child a chance to explore their emotions and get to the root cause of their difficulties, providing them with the coping skills that are needed for long-term success and wellness.
Your child or teen may experience the following benefits by attending therapy for school-related issues:
Better academic performance
Increased self-esteem
Support for learning disabilities
Better emotional well-being
Enhanced problem-solving skills
Healthier relationships
Parental guidance
Prevention of behavioral problems
Long-term coping skills
Encouragement of positive growth
Navigating school-related problems can be challenging for parents and children alike. But, seeking school counseling is a transformational step in overcoming your child’s unique obstacles. We encourage you to explore how therapy can make a difference in your child’s life!
How Can I Start school issues counseling at Anchor Therapy?
WORKING WITH anchor therapy IS EASY
Fill out the contact form below.
An intake coordinator will respond to your submission with more information on our school therapy services.
Find peace in knowing that educational therapy will provide your child or teen with the tools needed to thrive both inside and outside of the classroom.
