Is your child being labeled as the bad kid at school? Are you getting calls from the principal? Has your child stopped being as playful as they once were? Has a recently divorce taken a toll on your child’s mood, causing self-blame? Is your little one having meltdowns and emotional outbursts? Is your child having nightmares? Has your child been bullied at school and needs a safe place to improve self-esteem and positive self-talk? Katie Ziskind is a holistic, creative child therapist in Melbourne, Florida at Wisdom Within Counseling. She specializes in working with preschoolers, children, adolescents, teenagers, and young adults. Katie Ziskind supports children and adolescents in building confidence, self-esteem, and positive coping skills.
Do you have a highly sensitive child, who is irritated by certain fabrics, tags, seams in clothing, and gets overwhelmed and frustrated as a result?
Is your highly sensitive child more empathetic, caring, and nurturing, but tends to get taken advantage of in friendships?
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and get connected with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
Does Your Child Need Therapy? How Katie Ziskind, Child Therapist in Melbourne, Florida Can Help
As a parent, you want the best for your child. However, life’s challenges can sometimes overwhelm even the youngest among us. Whether it’s navigating family changes, dealing with loss, or struggling with friendships, children often don’t have the tools or words to express their emotions.
We learn about math and science, but we never learn emotional coping skills. If you’ve noticed your child is acting out, frustrated easily, withdrawing, or seems stuck in sadness, play therapy can provide the support they need. When you are looking for a holistic, creative child therapist in Melbourne, Florida, Katie Ziskind offers unique, out-of-the-box specialities.
At Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida, we specialize in helping children build resilience. Katie Ziskind helps children process difficult emotions, and feel good about themselves in the process, even during life’s toughest transitions.
What Are Signs Your Child Needs Therapy?
Children respond to stress, trauma, and life changes differently than adults. Your child may not always articulate what’s going on inside. Your child shows anxiety, skin picking, and scab picking when anxious. But, won’t be able to name or verbalize their stress like an adult. Instead, children often express their struggles through behavior. Maybe, your child is experiencing stress and now is a very picky eater, and it is getting worse. Or, your child is having academic challenges and getting in trouble at school. Perhaps, sibling fights are escalating and getting very intense very quickly. Deep down, your child may be experiencing jealousy, but not yet have the tools to release it.
Here are some common signs your child might benefit from therapy:
- Emotional Outbursts: Increased anger, irritability, or frequent crying spells.
- Withdrawing: Isolating from family or friends, or seeming unusually quiet.
- Changes in Behavior: Acting out at school, trouble focusing, or becoming more defiant.
- Sleep or Appetite Issues: Difficulty sleeping, nightmares, or changes in eating habits.
- Self-Blame: Saying things like “I’m a bad kid” or blaming themselves for family problems.
If your child is struggling with parental divorce, blending families, the birth of a sibling, the loss of a loved one, friendship issues, or even more severe trauma like sexual abuse, therapy in Melbourne, Florida with Katie Ziskind can help them process these experiences in a healthy way.
The Anger Iceberg: What’s Beneath the Surface?
When children act out with anger, it’s often just the tip of the iceberg. Beneath the surface, there can be a range of hidden emotions and unmet needs. The anger iceberg is a powerful metaphor to help parents understand what might be driving their child’s behavior. Below the visible anger, children may be experiencing:
- Sadness: They might be grieving a loss or feeling disconnected from loved ones.
- Fear: Anxiety about changes like starting a new school or blending families can manifest as anger.
- Guilt or Shame: A child might feel responsible for family conflict or blame themselves for a situation they can’t control.
- Loneliness: Difficulty making friends or feeling excluded can lead to frustration and outbursts.
Recognizing the layers beneath anger is essential to addressing the root causes and helping your child find healthier ways to express their emotions.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
The Role of Play Therapy in Healing
Research shows that play therapy is one of the most effective ways to help children process emotions and navigate challenges. Unlike adults, children often lack the verbal skills to articulate what they’re feeling. Play therapy provides a safe, nurturing environment where they can express themselves through toys, games, and creative activities.
According to the Association for Play Therapy, this approach can:
- Enhance Emotional Expression: Play allows children to communicate feelings they may not have words for.
- Build Problem-Solving Skills: Through imaginative play, children learn to navigate challenges and develop coping strategies.
- Improve Self-Esteem: Mastering new skills during therapy helps children feel confident and capable.
- Foster Emotional Regulation: Play therapy helps children identify their feelings and develop tools to manage them.
Creative, Holistic Approaches to Child Therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling along the Space Coast of Florida
At Wisdom Within Counseling, we understand that every child is unique. That’s why we incorporate creative, holistic therapies tailored to your child’s needs. Beyond play therapy, we offer:
- Art In Therapy: Painting, drawing, and sculpting help children express emotions and build self-awareness.
- Music In Therapy: Playing instruments, singing, or listening to music can soothe anxiety and foster self-expression.
- Walk-and-Talk Therapy: Movement-based sessions allow children to open up in a relaxed, non-pressured environment.
These approaches engage children in a way that feels natural and enjoyable, making therapy a positive experience.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
Has your family been through a major change recently and is your child not doing well?
How Separation and Divorce Affect Children
Big changes like parents separating or divorcing can feel really scary and confusing for a child.
When families go from living together in one home to living in two, kids might not fully understand what’s happening. And, that can leave them feeling lost or unsure about where they belong.
Children often wonder, “Was this my fault?” or “If I’d been better, would things be different?” These kinds of thoughts can make them feel like they’re bad or that something is wrong with them. Even if they don’t say it out loud, they might hold those worries deep inside.
When routines change—like staying at one house during the week and another on weekends—it can feel hard for kids to feel settled.
They might miss one parent when they’re with the other or worry about making everyone happy.
Big emotions like sadness, anger, or guilt can bubble up, even if they don’t fully understand what they’re feeling.
Separation or divorce can also affect how kids feel about themselves and others. They might become extra clingy, act out at school, or pull away from friends because they’re trying to make sense of their new world.
How Therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida Can Help Your Child Navigate Divorce or Two Homes
Children commonly carry self-blame, guilt, and feel they are at fault for parental conflicts.
Your child often silently struggles with self-blame after a divorce. Even when parents make it clear that the separation isn’t the child’s fault, kids can internalize the situation and feel responsible.
They might think, “If I hadn’t fought with my sibling, maybe Mom and Dad wouldn’t have split up,” or “If I’d been better behaved, maybe they’d still be together.”
This self-blame is especially common in younger children, who often see themselves as the center of their world and feel like everything that happens around them is connected to their actions. For older children and teens, self-blame might manifest differently, like feeling guilt for not seeing the signs of conflict earlier or feeling responsible for taking care of a parent’s emotional needs during the transition.
How Self-Blame Can Affect Children
- Lower Self-Esteem: Children who blame themselves may start believing they are “bad” or “not good enough,” which can impact their self-worth.
- Behavioral Changes: Self-blame can lead to acting out, withdrawing, or becoming overly people-pleasing to “fix” things.
- Anxiety and Stress: Kids might constantly worry about making mistakes, thinking they could cause more family problems.
- Difficulty Trusting Relationships: Over time, unresolved self-blame can make kids fear rejection or abandonment in other relationships.
How Child Therapy Addresses and Removes Self-Blame After Divorce
Therapy helps children understand that divorce is a decision between adults—not something caused by anything they did. Through creative approaches like play, art, and storytelling, children can safely explore and express their feelings. They can also learn healthier ways to think about the divorce and develop confidence in knowing they are loved and not at fault.
By providing emotional reassurance, consistency, and support, therapy creates a safe space where kids can rebuild their sense of self-worth and adjust to their new family dynamic.
At Wisdom Within Counseling, we help children feel safe, supported, and understood during tough family changes.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
Play therapy, art in therapy, and other creative activities in child therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling give kids the tools to share their feelings—even the ones they don’t have words for yet.
Therapy helps children:
- Feel Heard and Understood: They’ll have a safe space to talk about their feelings without fear of upsetting anyone.
- Cope with New Routines: Therapy teaches kids how to adjust to having two homes and find comfort in their new normal.
- Build Confidence: Kids learn that family changes are never their fault and that they are still deeply loved.
- Express Emotions in Healthy Ways: Instead of bottling up feelings, children learn to talk about their worries, fears, or anger.
Your child doesn’t have to go through this alone, and neither do you. Therapy can make a big difference in helping your child feel secure and loved, even during difficult family transitions.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
Does your child struggle with being bullied and need positive self-talk and self-esteem?
Bullying is a painful reality for many children, whether it happens on the playground, at school, or even online. Being teased, picked on, or excluded can leave a child feeling isolated, ashamed, and helpless. Children who cry easily or show sensitive emotions are often targeted by bullies, leading to a cycle of low self-esteem and a fear of speaking up. This can make school and social situations overwhelming for a child who just wants to feel accepted and safe.
The Impact of Bullying on Your Child
Bullying can have a lasting emotional and psychological impact, including:
- Low Self-Esteem: Teasing or ridicule can make a child feel like there’s something wrong with them.
- Fear of Social Situations: Kids who are bullied often withdraw or avoid social interactions to protect themselves.
- Difficulty Expressing Emotions: Your child might feel angry, sad, or frustrated but struggle to talk about their feelings.
- Decline in School Performance: Bullying can make it hard to focus or feel motivated to succeed academically.
- Anxiety and Stress: Fear of encountering bullies can create constant tension and nervousness for your child.
How Child Therapy Supports Kids Who Struggle with Bullying
Therapy can be a lifeline for a child who is being bullied. It offers a safe, supportive space where your child can express their feelings, learn how to stand up for themselves, and rebuild their confidence. Here’s how therapy can help:
- Building Confidence: Through play therapy, art therapy, or storytelling, your child can explore their strengths and learn to see themselves in a positive light. This helps them understand that bullying is about the bully—not about who they are as a person.
- Learning Assertiveness: Therapy teaches kids how to advocate for themselves, such as asking a teacher for help or using assertive language to set boundaries with a bully.
- Processing Big Feelings: If your child feels overwhelmed by sadness, anger, or shame, therapy provides tools to process and express those emotions in a healthy way.
- Improving Problem-Solving Skills: Role-playing in therapy helps kids practice handling tough social situations, such as what to say when teased or how to handle being left out.
- Strengthening Self-Esteem: By focusing on your child’s unique qualities and helping them recognize their worth, therapy nurtures a sense of confidence and resilience.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
Tools to Build Resilience and Self-Esteem
At Wisdom Within Counseling, we use creative, child-centered approaches like:
- Art Therapy: Drawing or painting helps children express their feelings about being bullied and see themselves in a positive light.
- Role-Playing Games: Practicing how to respond to a bully in therapy gives kids the tools to feel empowered in real-life situations.
- Positive Affirmations: Teaching your child to use affirming self-talk can help them build a stronger sense of self-worth.
- Relaxation Techniques: Skills like deep breathing or mindfulness can reduce anxiety and help children stay calm in challenging situations.
Supporting Your Child at Home
As a parent, you play a crucial role in your child’s journey toward confidence and self-esteem. Encourage open conversations by letting them know it’s okay to talk about bullying or their feelings. Remind your child that being bullied is never their fault and that they have the right to feel safe and respected.
When combined with the supportive tools of therapy, your child can develop the courage and skills to face bullying, seek help when needed, and grow into a resilient and confident individual.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
Do You Have A Child Who Is More Sensitive Emotionally and Needing A Safe Place To Release Big Feelings?
Understanding Highly Sensitive Children and Highly Sensitive People
Does your child seem to notice every little detail, react strongly to changes, or feel overwhelmed in noisy or busy environments? If so, they might be a highly sensitive person (HSP).
Highly sensitive children and adults have a unique way of experiencing the world, often noticing subtleties and processing emotions more deeply than others. While being highly sensitive is not a flaw, it can sometimes make life more challenging in a world that values toughness and resilience.
What Is a Highly Sensitive Person (HSP)?
The concept of high sensitivity comes from Dr. Elaine Aron’s research on sensory processing sensitivity, a personality trait found in about 15–20% of people. Highly sensitive individuals (HSPs):
- Process Experiences Deeply: HSPs reflect more on their emotions and experiences, which can lead to deeper insights but also make them prone to overthinking.
- Notice Subtleties: They may pick up on small details others miss, such as changes in tone of voice or slight shifts in mood.
- React Strongly to Stimuli: Bright lights, loud noises, or crowded spaces can feel overwhelming to highly sensitive people.
- Feel Emotions Intensely: They may cry easily, feel deeply moved by art or music, or experience profound empathy for others.
What Are Signs You Have a Highly Sensitive Child?
Highly sensitive children often show traits like:
- Being Overwhelmed in Busy Settings: Crowds, loud environments, or chaotic classrooms may cause anxiety or meltdowns.
- Difficulty with Transitions: Changes, even small ones like a new teacher or schedule, can be especially stressful.
- Strong Emotional Reactions: They may cry or become upset easily, whether due to frustration, sadness, or empathy for others.
- High Empathy: They deeply care about the feelings of others and may even feel responsible for soothing them.
- Need for Quiet Time: Highly sensitive children often need alone time to recharge after socializing or dealing with sensory overload.
Emotional Challenges for Highly Sensitive Children
While sensitivity is a strength, it can lead to struggles if misunderstood or unsupported:
- Feeling Misunderstood: Highly sensitive children might be labeled as “too emotional” or “shy,” which can hurt their self-esteem.
- Difficulty Handling Criticism: Even gentle corrections can feel deeply personal or overwhelming.
- Bullying or Social Challenges: Their sensitivity may make them an easy target for teasing, especially if they cry or withdraw in response.
- Overwhelm and Burnout: Sensory or emotional overload can lead to meltdowns, fatigue, or withdrawal.
How Melbourne, Florida Child Therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling Supports Highly Sensitive Children
Therapy provides a safe space for highly sensitive children to understand and embrace their unique traits. At Wisdom Within Counseling, we tailor sessions to meet the needs of these deep feelers. Here’s how therapy can help:
- Building Emotional Resilience: Highly sensitive children can learn to navigate their big emotions and develop tools to cope with overwhelming situations.
- Encouraging Self-Acceptance: Therapy fosters self-compassion, helping your child view their sensitivity as a strength, not a weakness.
- Practicing Social Skills: Role-playing and skill-building exercises help your child handle criticism, teasing, or social interactions with confidence.
- Reducing Overwhelm: Relaxation techniques, mindfulness, and creative outlets like art or music therapy can help your child feel grounded.
- Empowering Emotional Expression: Through play or creative therapies, your child can explore their feelings in a way that feels natural and safe.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
The Strengths of Highly Sensitive People and Children
It’s important to recognize that being highly sensitive is a gift. HSPs often excel in areas that require empathy, creativity, and attention to detail.
Your highly sensitive child may:
- Have Deep Compassion: HSPs are often the first to notice when someone is upset and offer support.
- Excel in Creative Fields: Their ability to feel deeply and notice subtleties often translates into exceptional creativity in art, music, writing, or problem-solving.
- Build Meaningful Relationships: Their ability to empathize and connect emotionally makes them exceptional friends and partners.
- Notice What Others Miss: Their heightened awareness can lead to valuable insights in both personal and professional settings.
How Parents Can Support Their Highly Sensitive Child Outside of Counseling near Indialantic, Florida
As a parent, you can help your highly sensitive child thrive outside of counseling sessions by:
- Validating Their Feelings: Let your child know it’s okay to feel deeply and express their emotions.
- Creating a Calming Environment: Minimize overstimulation by offering quiet spaces or breaks during busy days.
- Encouraging Their Strengths: Highlight how their sensitivity makes them kind, caring, and insightful.
- Teaching Coping Skills: Help them learn grounding techniques. In addition to the mindfulness skills Katie Ziskind is a holistic, creative child therapist in Melbourne, Florida teaches in session, you can practice therapy homework. Model deep breathing for your child to manage sensory overload or intense emotions.
- Partnering with a Child Therapist near Satellite Beach, Florida: A child therapist such as Katie Ziskind at Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida can offer additional tools and guidance to help your highly sensitive child embrace their sensitivity and navigate challenges.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
How Melbourne Beach, Florida Play Therapy Can Support Your Highly Sensitive Child
If your child is highly sensitive, they may experience the world in a way that feels overwhelming at times.
Loud noises, bright lights, busy environments, or even strong emotions can be more intense for them. They can be very easily disrupted. It can be hard for a highly sensitive child to feel calm in over stimulating environments.
Children who are highly sensitive feel others’ emotions more deeply than others. This can be a superpower and also difficult to let go of others’ feelings. Your child who is highly sensitive is more empathetic, caring, and nurturing. But, your child feels they have to fix others who aren’t feeling good.
Therapy near Melbourne Beach, Florida can provide essential support, offering your child tools to thrive while embracing their sensitivity as a strength rather than a challenge.
Here’s how child therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling on the Space Coast of Florida can make a difference for your highly sensitive child:
Teaching Emotional Regulation Skills
Highly sensitive children often experience big emotions, like frustration, sadness, or anxiety.
Child therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling near Cocoa Beach, Florida helps them learn how to name, understand, and manage these feelings.
- Mindfulness Techniques: Breathing exercises or grounding techniques help them calm their nervous system during moments of stress.
- Coping Strategies: Katie Ziskind is a holistic, creative child therapist in Melbourne, Florida teaches strategies to handle difficult emotions. These include journaling, drawing, singing, dancing, painting, or using “feelings charts” to identify what they’re experiencing.
- Understanding Triggers: Through Melbourne, Florida play therapy, your child will become more aware of what overstimulates or overwhelms them, giving them the ability to prepare for and manage those situations.
Building Self-Esteem and Confidence
Highly sensitive children can feel self-conscious about their differences, especially if they’re told they’re “too emotional” or “too sensitive.”
Therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling near Rockledge, Florida helps reframe their sensitivity as a unique and valuable trait.
- Promoting Self-Compassion: Katie Ziskind is a holistic, creative child therapist in Melbourne, Florida who helps your child recognize that their sensitivity makes them empathetic and thoughtful, not flawed.
- Encouraging Strengths: Therapy focuses on highlighting and nurturing your child’s talents, such as creativity, kindness, or problem-solving.
- Creating Positive Self-Talk: Your child will learn to replace self-critical thoughts with self-loving, self-accepting, affirming ones, building a more confident inner voice.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
Reducing Anxiety and Overwhelm Through Child Counseling near Cocoa Beach, Florida
The fast pace of modern life can overwhelm a highly sensitive child. Therapy provides tools to help them handle overstimulation.
- Relaxation Techniques: Katie Ziskind is a holistic, creative child therapist in Melbourne, Florida who can teach your child strategies like progressive muscle relaxation or guided imagery to calm their body and mind.
- Problem-Solving Tools: Therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling helps your child approach overwhelming situations, like noisy classrooms or crowded playgrounds, with practical strategies.
- Role-Playing Scenarios: Practicing social situations in child therapy can prepare your child to handle real-life challenges. For instance, asking for help when they’re overwhelmed is a positive life skill.
Navigating Peer Relationships
Highly sensitive children may struggle with friendships, bullying, or feeling misunderstood by peers. Play therapy in Melbourne, Florida at Wisdom Within Counseling provides a safe space to work on these issues.
- Building Assertiveness: Therapy for children at Wisdom Within Counseling helps your child practice setting boundaries and standing up for themselves in a way that feels comfortable.
- Social Skills Development: Through games, role-playing, and guided conversations, your child can learn how to navigate social dynamics with confidence.
- Processing Teasing or Bullying: Katie Ziskind is a holistic, creative child therapist in Melbourne, Florida who provides a compassionate space for your child to share their experiences and develop strategies for dealing with unkind behavior.
Embracing Sensory Sensitivity
Highly sensitive children often have heightened sensory awareness. To add, textures, fabrics like wool, tags, seams can be unbelievably uncomfortable and irritating for highly sensitive people. Children who are highly sensitive may get anxious or experience frustration due to uncomfortable clothing, itchy fabric, or uncomfortable seams.
Sensory overwhelm can make busy, noisy, or chaotic environments feel overwhelming. A noisy school cafeteria can be very hard for your highly sensitive child to process. Maybe, a noisy house with lots of siblings playing and talking can lead your highly sensitive child to have overwhelm, anxiety, and frustration issues.
Holistic play therapy can help your highly sensitive child embrace and manage these emotional and physical sensitivities.
- Sensory-Friendly Tools: Katie Ziskind is a holistic, creative child therapist in Melbourne, Florida recommends strategies. These include noise-canceling headphones, soft fabrics, nature therapies, or fidget toys, to reduce sensory overwhelm.
- Developing Boundaries: Your highly sensitive child can learn how to express their needs, like asking for quiet time or stepping away from overwhelming situations.
- Reframing Sensitivity as a Strength: Therapy near Satellite Beach, Florida helps your child see how their heightened awareness can make them observant, intuitive, and thoughtful.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
Katie Ziskind is a holistic, creative child therapist in Melbourne, Florida who provides a safe space for highly sensitive children to express their feelings.
Highly sensitive children often need a space where they feel understood and accepted. Therapy in Melbourne, Florida at Wisdom Within Counseling offers that safe environment, where they can freely express themselves without fear of judgment.
- Creative Expression: Play therapy, art therapy, or music therapy in Melbourne, Florida allows your child to explore their emotions in a way that feels natural and fun.
- Validation of Emotions: Katie Ziskind is a holistic, creative child therapist in Melbourne, Florida who helps your child feel heard and understood, reinforcing that their feelings are valid and important.
Partnering with Parents
Therapists work closely with parents to provide tools and strategies for supporting their highly sensitive child at home.
- Parent Coaching: You’ll learn how to respond to your child’s sensitivity in ways that encourage resilience and self-acceptance.
- Tailored Strategies: Therapists can offer personalized advice on creating a calm home environment, managing transitions, and supporting your child’s emotional needs.
- Regular Updates: You’ll stay informed about your child’s progress and learn how to reinforce the tools they’re developing in therapy.
Why Therapy Makes a Difference In Your Highly Sensitive Child’s Emotional Expression
Therapy helps your child not just cope with their sensitivity but thrive because of it. By fostering self-awareness, emotional regulation, and confidence, therapy empowers highly sensitive children to navigate life’s challenges while embracing their unique gifts.
If your child is struggling to manage their sensitivity, connect with Katie Ziskind, who is a holistic, creative child therapist in Brevard County Florida who understands the needs of highly sensitive children.
Together, you can help your child develop tools for a happier, more confident future.
How Child Therapy Can Help in Melbourne, Florida Support Your Child Who Is Experiencing Death, Grief and Loss?
Grief and loss are some of the most challenging experiences a child can face. Whether your child has lost a beloved grandparent, a cherished family pet, a sibling, or a close family friend, these experiences can leave them feeling overwhelmed, confused, and emotionally fragile.
As a parent, it can be heartbreaking to witness your child’s pain, especially when you’re grieving yourself. That’s where child therapy can provide crucial support.
Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida helps your child process their feelings, build positive coping skills, and find a way forward.
At Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida, we specialize in helping children navigate the complex emotions associated with grief and loss. Let’s explore the emotional impacts of loss on children and how therapy can make a difference.
The Emotional Impact of Grief and Loss on Children
Children experience grief differently than adults. While they may not have the words to fully express their emotions, they feel the weight of loss just as deeply.
Here are some common emotional effects of grief, loss, and death on children:
Confusion and Uncertainty
Children often struggle to understand the permanence of loss. Younger children may not fully grasp the concept of death, while older children may wrestle with existential questions or fears about their own safety and the safety of others.
Sadness and Crying
Tears and sadness are natural responses to loss. Your child may cry often, seem withdrawn, or feel deeply sorrowful as they process their grief.
Anger and Irritability
Grief can manifest as frustration or anger. Your child might express anger at the loss itself, at others around them, or even at themselves.
Guilt and Self-Blame
Children sometimes internalize loss, wondering if they’re somehow responsible. For example, they may think, “If I had been better behaved, maybe this wouldn’t have happened.”
Fear and Anxiety
Loss can make the world feel less predictable and safe. Your child may develop fears about losing someone else they love or struggle with separation anxiety.
Regression in Behavior
Younger children may revert to earlier developmental stages, such as bedwetting, thumb-sucking, or needing more reassurance and attention.
Difficulty Concentrating
Grief can make it hard for children to focus in school or enjoy activities they once loved. They may appear distracted or uninterested in things they used to care about.
Physical Symptoms
Emotional pain often manifests physically. Your child might experience headaches, stomachaches, or fatigue as part of their grief.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
How Child Therapy in Melbourne, Florida at Wisdom Within Counseling Can Help Your Grieving Child
Child therapy offers a safe and nurturing space for your child to process their grief in a way that feels supportive and manageable. Here’s how our therapists in Melbourne, Florida, can help:
Creating a Safe Space to Express Feelings
Grieving children need to feel heard and understood. Our therapists create a warm, nonjudgmental environment where your child can openly share their thoughts and emotions, whether through words, play, or art.
Explaining Loss in Age-Appropriate Ways
Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida uses language and concepts tailored to your child’s developmental stage to help them understand the loss. For younger children, this might include simple explanations and storytelling; for older children, it might involve discussing more complex emotions and ideas.
Teaching Healthy Coping Skills
Grief can feel overwhelming, but therapy equips your child with tools to manage their emotions. These may include breathing exercises, journaling, drawing, or grounding techniques to calm anxiety.
Addressing Guilt and Self-Blame
Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida helps your child work through feelings of guilt, reassuring them that the loss was not their fault and helping them replace self-blame with self-compassion.
Helping Them Process Memories
Remembering a lost loved one or pet can be both comforting and painful. Therapy encourages your child to honor and cherish their memories in a way that feels healing, such as creating a memory box, writing letters, or drawing pictures.
Building Emotional Resilience
Loss is a part of life, but resilience can help your child navigate future challenges. Therapy focuses on developing your child’s emotional strength and confidence so they feel equipped to handle difficult emotions.
Providing Tools for Social Support
Grieving children often feel isolated. Therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida can help them learn how to share their feelings with trusted friends, family members, or teachers and ask for the support they need.
Guiding Parents Through the Process
Therapy isn’t just for your child—it’s for your family. Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida provides guidance to parents. She helps you understand what your child is going through and offering tips for supporting them at home.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
Examples of Loss and How Working With Katie Ziskind, Child Therapist in Melbourne, Florida Can Help
Here are some common types of loss and the specific ways therapy can help your child:
- Loss of a Grandparent: Your child may feel the absence of a grandparent deeply, especially if they had a close bond. Therapy can help them process the sadness and honor their grandparent’s memory through meaningful activities.
- Loss of a Pet: For many children, pets are family. Losing a pet can be a child’s first experience with death, making it confusing and painful. Therapy helps your child understand and express their grief while finding ways to cherish their pet’s memory.
- Loss of a Sibling: The loss of a sibling is profoundly life-altering for a child. Therapy provides a space for them to grieve openly, address feelings of loneliness, and work through the complex emotions that come with such a significant loss.
- Divorce and Separation: While not a death, the loss of a family unit through divorce can feel like a deep emotional loss for a child. Therapy helps them navigate these changes, process their feelings, and build confidence in their new family dynamic.
Why Choose Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida For Child and Family Therapy
At Wisdom Within Counseling, we understand the unique needs of grieving children and their families.
Our compassionate therapists are experienced in helping children of all ages navigate loss, build resilience, and embrace their emotions in healthy ways.
We use evidence-based approaches like play therapy, art therapy, and mindfulness to create a personalized experience that supports your child’s healing journey. Our goal is to help your child feel understood, empowered, and hopeful as they move forward.
Take the Next Step for Your Child’s Healing
If your child is struggling with grief or loss, you don’t have to face it alone. At Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida, we’re here to support your family every step of the way.
Contact us today to schedule a consultation and learn how child therapy can help your child find peace and strength after loss. Together, we can help your child heal, grow, and thrive.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
How Does Therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida Benefit Your Child?
Children who engage in therapy often experience remarkable growth, not only in their emotional health but also in their relationships and self-perception.
Therapy helps your child:
- Cope with Big Changes: Whether it’s divorce, a move, or a new sibling, therapy provides tools to adapt and thrive.
- Process Grief or Trauma: Gentle guidance helps your child make sense of loss, abuse, or difficult experiences.
- Improve Communication: Therapy fosters emotional literacy, so your child can express feelings in healthy ways.
- Build Resilience: Developing coping skills helps your child face future challenges with confidence.
Partnering with a Specialist In Child Therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida Who Cares
At Wisdom Within Counseling, we believe every child deserves to feel safe, loved, and capable.
Katie Ziskind, child therapist, specializes in creating a warm, supportive space where your child can grow. She partners closely with parents to provide updates, tools, and strategies to support your child’s progress at home.
If you’re ready to help your child navigate life’s challenges with confidence and joy, we’re here to help.
Contact us today to schedule a parent only intake session and take the first step toward your child’s brighter future.
Reach out to Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida today to meet with Katie Ziskind, child therapist.
How Can Working With Katie Ziskind, Child Therapist in Melbourne, Florida, Support Children with ADHD, Hyperactivity, and ADD?
Raising a child with ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or ADD (Attention Deficit Disorder) can be both rewarding and challenging. You may see your child’s incredible creativity, energy, and curiosity, but you may also notice their struggles with focus, impulsivity, or emotional regulation.
At Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida, we specialize in helping children with ADHD, hyperactivity, and ADD thrive by providing tailored therapeutic support to meet their unique needs.
Understanding ADHD and ADD in Children
ADHD and ADD are neurodevelopmental conditions that impact a child’s ability to focus, manage impulses, and regulate emotions.
While ADD primarily involves inattentiveness, ADHD includes hyperactivity and impulsivity in addition to attention challenges.
Here are some common signs:
- Difficulty Paying Attention: Your child may struggle to focus on tasks, follow instructions, or complete assignments.
- Hyperactivity: Constant fidgeting, restlessness, or an inability to sit still for long periods.
- Impulsivity: Acting without thinking, interrupting others, or having difficulty waiting their turn.
- Emotional Dysregulation: Intense emotions that can shift quickly, leading to frustration, anger, or sadness.
- Challenges in School: Trouble staying organized, following classroom rules, or interacting with peers.
These challenges can affect your child’s self-esteem, relationships, and overall well-being. However, with the right support, your child can learn tools to manage these difficulties and develop confidence in their abilities.
The Emotional Impact of ADHD on Children
Children with ADHD often face unique emotional struggles. They may:
- Feel Misunderstood: Your child might believe they’re “a bad kid” because of negative feedback about their behavior.
- Experience Frustration: Struggling to focus or complete tasks can leave your child feeling frustrated and defeated.
- Have Low Self-Esteem: Frequent corrections from teachers, parents, or peers may lead your child to doubt their abilities.
- Feel Socially Isolated: Difficulty with impulse control can create challenges in making and keeping friends.
These emotions can compound over time, making early intervention critical for your child’s mental health and development.
How Therapy Can Help Children with ADHD and ADD
Child therapy provides a safe, supportive space where your child can explore their feelings, develop new skills, and build resilience.
At Wisdom Within Counseling, we offer evidence-based approaches tailored to children with ADHD and ADD, including:
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
CBT helps your child identify unhelpful thought patterns and replace them with positive, empowering beliefs. For instance, a child who feels “I can never do anything right” can learn to reframe that thought into “I’m trying my best, and it’s okay to make mistakes.”
Behavioral Interventions:
We teach practical strategies for managing impulsivity, staying organized, and improving focus. This might include creating visual schedules, breaking tasks into smaller steps, or practicing mindfulness techniques to improve self-regulation.
3. Social Skills Training:
Your child will learn how to navigate friendships, take turns, and manage emotions during interactions. Role-playing and games can help your child build confidence in social situations.
Play Therapy:
Plus, play therapy allows your child to express emotions, explore challenges, and develop problem-solving skills in a fun, engaging way. This approach is particularly effective for younger children who may struggle to articulate their feelings.
Parent Support and Coaching:
We partner with you to provide tools and strategies for supporting your child at home. This might include learning positive reinforcement techniques, setting clear boundaries, and creating an ADHD-friendly home environment.
The Benefits of Therapy for ADHD and ADD
With consistent therapy, children with ADHD and ADD can:
- Improve Emotional Regulation: Learn techniques to manage frustration, anger, and anxiety.
- Enhance Focus and Organization: Develop strategies to stay on task and complete assignments.
- Build Social Confidence: Practice skills to navigate friendships and peer interactions.
- Increase Self-Esteem: Feel empowered and proud of their progress.
- Strengthen Family Relationships: Therapy can reduce conflict and improve communication within your family.
Creative, Holistic Approaches for ADHD Support
At Wisdom Within Counseling, we also incorporate holistic and creative therapies to engage your child and enhance their therapeutic experience. These approaches include:
- Art In Therapy: Drawing and painting help children process emotions and build focus.
- Movement-Based Therapy: Activities like yoga or walk-and-talk sessions allow children to release energy while developing self-awareness.
- Music In Therapy: Playing or listening to music can soothe anxiety and improve concentration.
These innovative approaches make therapy enjoyable for your child while addressing their unique needs.
Partnering with a Specialist Who Understands ADHD
At Wisdom Within Counseling, we understand the complexities of ADHD and ADD and are committed to helping your child thrive.
We take a strengths-based approach, celebrating your child’s unique gifts while addressing their challenges. Katie Ziskind creates a warm, nonjudgmental space where your child can feel seen, heard, and valued.
Take the First Step Today And Schedule Your Parent Only Intake
If your child is struggling with ADHD, hyperactivity, or ADD, therapy can provide the tools they need to succeed—academically, socially, and emotionally.
Contact Wisdom Within Counseling in Melbourne, Florida, and discover how we can support your family on this journey.
Reach out today to help your child unlock their full potential.
To begin, click below to schedule your parent only intake session and connect with Katie Ziskind, child therapist in Melbourne, Florida.
In Florida, where does Katie Ziskind, child therapist offer help?
All over Florida, child therapy is available: Melbourne Beach, Indialantic, West Melbourne, Palm Bay, Malabar, Grant-Valkaria, Micco, Sebastian, Vero Beach, Indian Harbour Beach, Satellite Beach, Cocoa Beach, Cape Canaveral, Cocoa, Rockledge, Merritt Island, Port St. John, Titusville, Mims, Christmas, Wedgefield, Bithlo, Saint Cloud, Yeehaw Junction, Kenansville, Fort Pierce, Lakewood Park, Port St. Lucie, Jensen Beach, Stuart, Hobe Sound, Fellsmere, Palm Shores, Melbourne Village, June Park, Eau Gallie, Melbourne Gardens, Canova Beach, South Patrick Shores, Sharpes, Courtenay, Bellwood, Indianola, Angel City, Aurantia, Narcoossee, Whittier, Royal Poinciana Park, Saint Lucie. She is also trained in yoga therapy for complex trauma, PTSD, and has worked with veterans. Katie Ziskind has an in person private practice office in Connecticut as well and is additionally licensed in New Jersey.
