The early years with your child can be full of laughs, surprises, and the surpassing of milestones. It can be a precious stage in raising children as you watch them explore their environment and learn new things every day. However, in the midst of all of the smiles, you may also be faced with, as some people describe it, the infamous “terrible twos”. At times you may feel at a loss with your toddler when they are tantruming over the smallest of issues. You may also be feeling immense guilt as your toddler cries when you leave. Raising a toddler can be hard and that is why behavioral health therapists can be a crucial source of support. Behavioral health therapists can support you and your toddler through a variety of challenges, but what will that support look like?
Primary focus is on the caregiver. As the main source of support for the toddler, it is important that you as the caregiver are provided with support and a place to process challenging behaviors. A behavioral health therapist will provide space for you to discuss challenges that are occurring for your toddler. As you discuss these challenges, you will learn new strategies, build on strategies already used, and develop a plan to improve the overall quality of life for you and your child.
Develop new techniques. During your time with a behavioral health therapist you will be able to learn and practice new techniques including developing the most effective routine for your child and how to reinforce positive behaviors. You may also learn how to utilize a positive parenting approach to behaviors, how to implement consistent discipline and limits, and how to communicate with your child in a way that strengthens the relationship. You will have the opportunity to watch your therapist use the strategies that are discussed, which can be a crucial part of learning. The therapist will also be able to guide you in using the skills with your child during the session. Using the skills in front of the therapist is a great way to receive feedback, which will allow you to develop confidence to use the skills at home.
Strength-based support. When working with a behavioral health therapist, the therapist will support you in identifying your strengths as a caregiver. You will develop an increased ability to use those strengths to meet your child’s challenging behaviors with successful interventions. The therapist will also be able to support you in identifying your child’s strengths that will help determine which techniques would be most effective.
A behavioral health therapy session with you and your toddler is built around targeting unwanted behaviors and supporting your needs as the caregiver. Obtaining behavioral health therapy for your toddler can be a great opportunity, not only for your child to begin building their emotional intelligence, but also for providing you with an avenue to develop a deeper relationship with your child.
