Therapy for Children with Big Emotions

As much as people like to romanticize childhood and paint it as this magical time, it can also be scary. For the most part, children have little control over the course of their lives. 

Really, the only defense a child has is their emotions, and when you’re little, it’s easy to view the way you feel as fact. It’s so easy to yield to the power of the big feeling. 

When a child wants something, the disappointment of being told ‘no’ is real. It can easily morph into a big, explosive emotional outburst. 

When parents go out for a date night and leave their child behind, the fear and worry that something could happen to their parents is real. So, naturally, that can also result in an outburst. 

Some children have a tougher time than others with big emotions. If your child is anxious or has frequent meltdowns and tantrums, here’s what you need to know.

How Can I Help My Child Deal with Big Feelings?

When your child is in the middle of a tantrum or meltdown, it is imperative that you remain calm. This can be really challenging, especially when you’re tired, and they’re screaming bloody murder. When you are emotionally regulated, you help your child feel safe, allowing them to process their feelings more quickly.

Try to help your child identify what they are feeling. If they are sad, validate that it is okay to feel sad. Feeling sad is normal, but it doesn’t last forever. 

Save any negotiation or reasoning until your child has calmed down somewhat. It’s futile to try to work something out when your kiddo is cresting the wave of their emotion.  

If emotional outbursts are a regular thing and are interfering with daily life, therapy is your next best bet. 

How Can Therapy Help My Child Manage Their Emotions?

At the Relationship Therapy Center, we provide therapy in Sacramento and have a ton of expertise working with families. 

The best part about your child seeing one of our experts is that they can get to the root of the issue. We’ll formulate an individualized age-appropriate treatment plan based on your child’s specific needs. 

Our goal is to equip your child with the tools they need to self-regulate. We teach them all sorts of skills, such as how the behavior associated with the feeling often leads to an outcome they didn’t want. 

We also empower you. We’ll provide you with strategies you can implement in the home or at the grocery store. We’ll teach you how to help your child navigate those big emotions without making a scene. 

If there is one word of advice we wish parents took to heart, okay, two words of advice, it’s this. First, nobody expects you to have all the answers. Yes, you’re the parent, but each child is different. Each child has a unique way of processing and interpreting events and expressing their feelings. This is new for you as well, but the good news is that there are experts who can help.

The second piece of advice is, don’t wait until the behavior is unmanageable before seeking help. The longer the problem persists, the harder it is to remedy. Additionally, some children learn that big, explosive outbursts ultimately lead to them getting what they want when their parent gives in. 

If you’re looking for therapy in Sacramento, please reach out. We have two convenient locations and offer flexible scheduling options to accommodate even the busiest of families. Please give us a call today to learn more about who we are and how we can help your child learn to navigate big emotions.

Begin Play Therapy or Child Counseling in Roseville or Fair Oaks, CA Today!

If your child is struggling one of the best things you can do is be proactive in getting your child help from a trained play therapist. With help and support your child can overcome the things that are troubling them and move forward in their life with more confidence and peace. Our counseling practice offers specialized play therapy and child counseling services by certified play therapists at both of our locations. Your child, and your family, can get to a better place. Our child therapists are here to help.

To begin counseling in Fair Oaks, CA, Roseville, CA or online, follow these steps

1. Contact the Relationship Therapy Center and schedule a free 15-minute phone consultation to learn more about in-person or online child therapy.
2. Make an appointment for your teen to meet with one of our compassionate child therapists.
3. Get the support your teen needs to navigate adolescent challenges with confidence!

Other Services Offered at The Relationship Therapy Center in California:

In addition to child therapy, Our Sacramento area counseling clinics located in Roseville and Fair Oaks, CA are pleased to offer a variety of mental health services. Our couples services include: Counseling after infidelity, sex therapy, co-parent counseling, family therapy, divorce counseling, intensive couples retreats, and premarital counseling. Individual therapy services include, therapy for children, teen therapy, depression treatment, and individual relationship counseling. Our therapists offer online counseling in California to treat a variety of mental health concerns. Please reach out to our Sacramento area therapy office to learn more about the many ways we can help you or your loved ones heal and grow.