"Is My Child Too Young for Counseling"?

Children, like any of us, have troubles and worries. Sometimes their troubles and worries are bigger than they know how to express or manage.

A child may have experienced separation or divorce of their parents, the loss of a loved one or even a pet, low self-esteem, low self-confidence, an alcoholic or addicted parent. They may be struggling in school with academics, or struggling with their relationships with friends or family members. These are all common issues that many children struggle with.

Because children do not always have the words to explain what is troubling them, at Heart and Soul Counseling, our therapist(s) help children sort out issues through play, art, movement, storytelling, and sand play. Guided, therapeutic play, art, movement, sand play and storytelling along with Cognitive Behavioral and Solution Focused therapies are all effective methods that child therapists use with children.

Some reasons to seek counseling support for your child:
• Inability to separate from parents
• Anxious or fearful
• Repeated, ritualistic behavior
• Withdrawal from family and friends
• Lack of self-confidence
• Been bullied or is bullying others
• Aggressive behavior
• Lack of interest in activities
• Lack of motivation at school
• Frequent crying
• Moodiness
• Refusal to comply with rules and expectations

If you don't see what your child is struggling with, call 614-569-8205 or email healing@heartandsoulohio.com for more information.

Peg Hemmer, MSW, LISW-S
Heart and Soul Counseling
168 Dorchester Square South
Westerville, Ohio 43081
614-569-8205
www.heartandsoulohio.com

Author's Bio: 

Peg received a Master of Social Work degree with a focus on Clinical Counseling and Child Welfare from The Ohio State University, graduated from Capital University with a Bachelor of Social Work degree and from Columbus State Community College with a major in Mental Health/Chemical Dependency/Mental Retardation and a minor in Sport and Fitness Management.

She has experience as an outpatient therapist, specializing in services to children ages 4 and up, adults, women's issues, couple's and family counseling. Peg is certified in Rational Hypnotherapy through the National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists. Peg has been trained in the Gottman approach to couple's therapy.

Peg re-established an Expressive Arts Clinical Program in a children's residential treatment center. In her role as a clinician there she provided services for youth who have experienced abuse and neglect, Depression, Anxiety Disorder, Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Bi-Polar Disorder, Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities and other Mental Health issues.

Peg has developed and/or presented trainings, educational, mental health groups and interactive experiences for The Ohio Department of Mental Health, The Ohio Department of Aging, Help Me Grow, The Grove City Police Department, at a children's residential treatment center, for other mental health professionals and foster parents.

Peg brings her education, experience and intuition to her private outpatient therapy practice, and particularly her creativity, in her work with children and adolescents, utilizing cognitive behavioral and solution focused therapies along with therapeutic play, sand tray, art, and movement modalities.

She is available to provide Social Work Supervision to graduate level social work students and graduates who are seeking their independent social work licensure.

She is a member of The National Association of Social Workers and The National Association of Cognitive Behavioral Therapists.

Peg's Philosophy: I believe in the intrinsic ability each person has to grow and transform. I view my role as a guide for assisting people to access their own wisdom and self-healing ability. I call on my education, experience and intuitive abilities to weave a variety of treatment modalities to meet the needs of each unique individual who seeks balance and wellness.
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