Child, Teen, and Family Therapy

Are you worried about your child’s behavior in school or at home?

Does your child seem more worried or less flexible than other children?

Is your child struggling to make friends or be accepted by peers?

Do you wonder how your relationship with your teenager became so distant or tense?

Are you concerned about substance use, self-harm, or other risky behaviors for your teen?

Are you struggling to know how to support your young adult as they have difficulty launching to college or beyond?   

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As a parent, finding the right support for a struggling child or teenager can feel like a daunting task. We understand this difficulty, and we are here to help. 

At Lilac Therapy Center, we believe that every difficult behavior a child displays represents an unmet need. Overall, children do the best they can with what they have.  Using this foundation, we strive to heal family problems through deeper connections and increased understanding, coupled with appropriate boundaries and age-appropriate expectations. 

We recognize that every family is a sum of its individual parts. Our therapists have the flexibility and skill to work with individuals within the family unit, helping them address personal concerns and develop a sense of self that contributes positively to the collective. Simultaneously, this approach ensures that we can also work with the entire family, enabling open dialogues, fostering understanding, and nurturing a supportive environment where growth can flourish. 

In therapy, we use a carefully tailored approach with each child and family that we treat, understanding that different children need different things in order to feel safe and able to share thoughts and feelings in therapy. We provide opportunities for children to express themselves through words, play, art, and other creative means. We provide take-home assignments and structured interventions for families when appropriate, and we believe involving family members in treatment for younger children is critical for change. 

An important part of our work with children and families also includes coordination of care between schools, pediatricians, psychiatrists, and other individuals important in a child’s life. We value comprehensive, supportive, and goal-oriented treatment, which can help children, teens, and families feel more connected and less distressed in their daily lives. 

We also provide therapy that addresses the unique needs of college students/young adults.  We know how challenging it can be to launch a young person into independence, and many issues around identity, independence, self-esteem, and life direction can emerge at this time. College students, in particular, currently face an incredible amount of stress, and we feel strongly that professional mental health support is critical for so many during the college years. 

The transition to adulthood can also bring mental health challenges to the forefront. College students and young adults might face increased stress, anxiety, and feelings of uncertainty. Our therapists are well-versed in addressing these concerns, providing coping strategies and tools to manage emotional well-being effectively. We collaborate with individuals and families to develop a support network that promotes mental health and resilience. 

Our family therapists treat a variety of concerns for children, teens, and families in Ambler, Blue Bell, and the surrounding areas, including: