Child and family therapy is a type of counseling that supports children and their families in addressing emotional, behavioral, and relational challenges. It focuses not just on the child as an individual, but on the family as a system—recognizing that family dynamics, communication patterns, and relationships deeply affect a child’s well-being.

What Child and Family Therapy Looks Like:

1. Assessment & Relationship-Building

• Begins with getting to know the child and family: their concerns, strengths, history, and goals.

• Therapists build trust and safety with both the child and caregivers.

• May include observations, play-based assessments, interviews, or standardized tools.

2. Therapy with the Child

• Uses age-appropriate methods:

  • Play therapy for young children (drawing, storytelling, puppets, role play).

  • Talk therapy for older children and teens.

  • Helps the child express feelings, learn coping skills, build self-awareness, and manage behavior.

3. Therapy with the Family

• Sessions may include the entire family, the child and one caregiver, or just the caregivers.

• Focuses on:

  • Improving communication and understanding.

  • Strengthening parent-child bonds.

  • Setting clear, consistent boundaries and expectations.

  • Exploring how family stress (e.g., divorce, trauma, mental illness) affects the child.

4. Parent Support and Coaching

• Helps caregivers respond more effectively to their child's emotions and behaviors.

• Supports parents’ own emotional needs and history (which may impact parenting).

• Teaches strategies for discipline, co-regulation, and emotional attunement.

5. Problem-Solving and Skill-Building

• Children and families learn tools for:

  • Emotion regulation

  • Conflict resolution

  • Communication

  • Coping with anxiety, grief, trauma, or life changes