Childhood Developmental Disorders
There are a wide range of childhood and developmental disorders, each with its own unique set of causes, symptoms, and treatments. As a trained therapist and counselor serving clients throughout the Hermosa Beach and South Bay area, I work with younger clients struggling with childhood and developmental disorders. Through a compassionate approach to therapy, I make sure every child who comes into my office feels safe, welcome, and understood. No matter what your child may be dealing with, I will work with them to better manage their symptoms, improve their sense of overall well being, and help them reach their full potential.
About Childhood & Developmental Disorders
Childhood and developmental disorders is an umbrella term that covers a wide range of psychological, physiological, and developmental issues that may occur in children. These conditions can include things like Autism Spectrum Disorders, ADHD or ADD, Separation Anxiety Disorder, Social Communication Disorder, intellectual disabilities, Tourette’s Disorder, and many other conditions. Even within a given disorder, no two individuals are exactly alike. Different children may display distinct symptoms and therefore necessitate different treatments.
When working with children with developmental disorders, I strive to take a personalized approach and understand the child as an individual. By working with them to understand their own unique situation, I can develop a treatment plan that helps them handle their symptoms more effectively so that they can continue to grow and develop optimally.
Symptoms of Childhood & Developmental Disorders
Because there are so many specific conditions included under the label of childhood and developmental disorders, a wide range of symptoms may present themselves. Sometimes, symptoms will be obvious very early on in the child’s life – even as early as infancy – while other times they may not manifest until later in childhood or even adolescence. As parents, it’s important to keep a watchful and nonjudgmental eye on your child’s behavior and development, making note of anything that may seem out of the ordinary while respecting your child’s own individuality.
Often, these disorders are first recognized during the school years, and teachers can be a great resource in identifying anything that may indicate a developmental disorder. While it’s difficult to pin down specific symptoms because there are so many possible conditions, there are a number of things you can look out for as parents.
One early sign to look for is social interaction. Does your child have any issues with eye contact, either with you or with other children? Do they seem generally interested in people, or are they more drawn to things and tend to shy away from social contact? Speech is another major area – while some children don’t say a word until the age of 5 or 6 and develop normally, other children may present speech impairment as the first sign of a disorder. In addition to these issues, comparing your child’s intellectual and relational development to their peers can be another helpful marker for any potential disorders.
Treating Childhood & Social Disorders
Once again, because every child is different and there are so many potential disorders at play, it’s difficult to describe a single treatment plan for childhood and developmental disorders. Instead of taking a one-size-fits-all approach, I strive to personalize treatment, seeking to understand both the disorder and the specific child it is affecting when I design a treatment plan.
Maintaining a compassionate mindset and a warm, welcoming demeanor, I will work with your child to better understand them and how they like to communicate. I then use that understanding to develop a treatment plan. Through therapy, exercises, and other therapeutic strategies, I’ll work to help your child understand their condition, create strategies to better manage it, and ultimately help them thrive. Most importantly, emphasis will always be placed on helping them embrace themselves for the beautiful, valuable people that they are. Working together, we will help your child realize his or her full potential and help him or her grow into a thriving, well-rounded individual.
Schedule a Consultation with Your South Bay Children’s Therapist
I understand that as a parent the idea of your child having a developmental disorder can be a difficult one – but after working with countless children with developmental disorders, I can say from experience that children are resilient. As a licensed professional therapist serving the Hermosa Beach area, I will work with your child compassionately to help them understand and adapt to their condition, creating a long-term treatment plan that will help them grow and thrive. Feel free to reach out to me by email or give me a call at 310.892.2572 to schedule a consultation and talk about your child’s options. I hope to hear from you soon, and I look forward to helping you and your child.