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Outdoor & Movement Therapy For Children with ADHD

If you are sick of getting calls from your child's principal, we can help create a plan for better behavior at school and home.If you are sick of getting calls from your child's principal, we can help create a plan for better behavior at school and home.therapy for children with ADHD, adults with ADHD, ADHD Therapy Niantic, Connecticut,  movement outdoor walking therapy in Niantic, Connecticut Wisdom Within Counseling, yoga and dance therapist

ADHD therapy in East Lyme, Connecticut helps children connect mind and body

ADHD therapy in East Lyme, Connecticut helps children feel safe expressing big feelings. If you are sick of getting calls from your child’s principal, we can help create a plan for better behavior at school and home.

Also, ADHD therapy in East Lyme, Connecticut helps your child learn healthy ways to cope. So, they can more easily express emotions through outdoor play therapy. Creative child therapy helps with better social skills, emotional learning, and confidence. Wisdom Within Counseling offers a unique and different approach to ADHD therapy in Niantic, Connecticut.

Looking for support for your frustrating, but creative, high energy little one? 

Your child may have an ADHD diagnosis, behavioral difficulties at home, and sometimes at school too. In school, your child has a 504 plan in place, but may not have a formal IEP just yet. And, your child may have just started on medication. But, you are concerned. Right now, you are tired after a long day at work. We are here to help your little one learn skills and help you, as a parent, feel supported. ADHD therapy Niantic, Connecticut bings out your child’s best, while teaching positive emotional confidence skills for self-regulation. Reach out for ADHD therapy in Niantic, Connecticut at Wisdom Within Counseling today.

 
Niantic Connecticut outdoor therapy child counseling Katie Ziskind Wisdom Within Counseling

We help angry, frustrated children channel those feelings into positive energy and emotional awareness skills.

Outdoor therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling promotes creativity, leadership, and autonomy.

We help children, teens, adults, and couples express emotions, release anxiety, and overcome loss in positive ways.

Looking for coping skills and therapy for anger and frustration for your child with ADHD?

From feeling tired after a long day of work, parenting your child with ADHD is overwhelming. To say the least, you are physically and mentally exhausted. And, your weekends are busy with swimming, soccer, and gymnastics. Further, your lunch breaks from work on the weekdays are filled with medical appointments for your child with ADHD. The team of child specialists at Wisdom Within Counseling use art, yoga, music, and animal therapies to teach your child with ADHD coping mechanisms. And, these are highly specialized for releasing feelings in many ways that feel safe for your child. In conclusion, these coping skills can help your whole family work better together.

How does tunnel vision impact children with ADHD? And, what can our team of child and teen therapists do to help?

First, children with ADHD are moving a million miles a minute. At times, your child can be too focused to the point where he or she can’t move on. So, it is like your child gets stuck, like a rock, and will melt down if change occurs. For example, if your child is doing one task, it can be very difficult to stop and leave that task to make it to a doctor’s appointment on time. And, it can be exhausting each time your child has meltdown when change needs to happen. So, if you child struggles with changes and transitions, we can help teach flexible thinking.

How do we specialize in teaching flexibility to children with ADHD when plans change?

Your child can use art, yoga, play, music, animals, and being outside to develop resilience, flexible thinking, and easy-going-ness. At Wisdom Within Counseling in Niantic, children with ADHD are seen as creative beings. And, children who are hyper active can feel accepted and embraced going outside in the sun for their therapy session. Moreover, children with ADHD can get stuck in tunnel vision that can help them back from healthy social friendships.

 
How do the therapists at Wisdom Within Counseling in Niantic know how to step into an angry child’s world to then teach positive skills?

And, tunnel vision can help with being focused on an art project, but it can be frustrating when you need your child to pick up and go. Through art, yoga, music, and holistic animal therapy, your child can learn that things don’t have to be perfect. At times, children with ADHD develop tunnel vision, which can make transition time between activities, eating out as a family, and even going food shopping exhausting. Our team of child therapists in Southeastern Connecticut at Wisdom Within Counseling help teach your child anger coping skills, how to relax, and anxiety release techniques. Lastly, we teach essential social-emotional skills for academic and home life success.

Adolescent Counseling For ADHD

In the future, going to middle school and moving into adolescence, you have concerns about your child’s adjustment. Further, you know that middle school requires more self-discipline. And, when adjusting to longer classes, changing classrooms, and demands of time management, your adolescent needs creative, positive coping skills. So, the art, yoga, music, outdoor, and animal therapies we provide can help support your child in many different methods beyond just talking. Also, you know that your child is gifted, smart, but needs extra support through more than just talking.

Call or Text 860-451-9364 for a phone consultation.

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Does your child with ADHD need help knowing when to work vs. play?

Your child is extremely intelligent, and bright. Perhaps, he or she was born an inventor and engineer! Or, storyteller or actress! Moreover, you child is amazing with technology, but needs support with self-discipline, homework management, and shifting gears for knowing when it is time to play vs. time to work. We specialize in helping children with ADHD feel supported, nurtured, and learn skills for organization. And, your child can choose from creative, holistic therapies here at Wisdom Within Counseling in Niantic.

ADHD therapy in East Lyme, Connecticut supports confidence and self-esteem skills

Have you ever heard of the runner’s high? Know what it is like to feel confident in your body? To start, physical movement is a huge part of motivation and self-confidence. Plus, movement therapy is a positive coping skill for helping children with ADHD release their feelings. And, your child can throw the frisbee outside, go for a walk with their therapist by the Niantic Bay beaches and shoreline, do yoga poses inside, or collect rocks outside. Also, movement therapy is a form of exercising that teaches a child resilience and self-awareness for overcoming the challenges of life.

Furthermore, movement therapy sessions help to remind your child of their beauty, wisdom, power, and grace that is within them.

Want To Try Everything Before Medicating Your Child?

Moreover, movement therapy includes yoga, walking to the playground or beach, dancing, and outdoor time. During poor weather conditions, we do movement therapy inside. Overall, your child with ADHD has an opportunity to develop positive life skills. Furthermore, these skills are build on foundations of self-care, empowerment, motivation, positive self-talk, self-esteem, and healthy relationships. Lastly, creating a lifestyle change overtime through movement therapy, nutrition, fun, and adventure can be more supportive long-term than ADHD medication.

What Is The Exercise Prescription When It Comes To Holistic Counseling in Niantic?

Also, hyperactivity and movement are not always welcome, especially in classroom settings. Even some therapist try to do talk-only counseling with children. Unfortunately, this approach only makes a child feel like a problem needing to be fixed. Therefore, parents with ADHD (attention deficit hyperactive disorder) and those who have children with ADHD fully understand the need to move. And, many parents understand how important movement is for relieving the root cause of hyperactivity, impulsivity, inattentiveness, and more in their child.

ADHD therapy in East Lyme, Connecticut includes yoga, art, music, and nature therapies

At Wisdom Within Counseling in Niantic, we provide play therapy as well as yoga, movement therapy, and music therapy to help your child with ADHD feel supported and accepted. Plus, these are all healthy avenues for expression tough emotions related to a parent’s divorce, a big move, pet loss, or peer drama. Read more about walk and talk sessions for teenagers, here.

Benefits of Hiking, Movement Therapy, Walking, and Yoga On Mental Health For Kids

Likewise, a recent study published in the Journal of Attention Disorders showed that vigorous intensity exercise for 45-minutes a day, three times a week, significantly improved cognitive and behavioral function in children. Thus, children who moved around has clearer thinking and learned more in school.

From movement therapy in Niantic, your child has a safe place to let go of their feelings, so they can be ready to learn in school.

Further, ADHD-focused movement therapy is action-based and strength-based allowing your child to feel like a leader of their own therapy journey. Further, the team of child and teen specialists focus on your child’s strengths to help them feel good about themselves. Then, your child can learn positive self-talk to cheer him or herself up outside of their child therapy session.

Is Your Child Bullied? 

Oftentimes, parents seek my support because their child with ADHD has developed very low self-esteem. At times, low self-esteem can be a result of being bullied at school and feeling less than peers. And, this is because they have been told they are doing it wrong in school. Then, low self-esteem develops. And, sadly, your child may even call him or herself stupid or a loser. Also, children with ADHD are often isolated in detention causing even more negative behaviors. Unfortunately, parents raising children with ADHD are pressured by the school to medicate.

Movement Based ADHD Therapy in Niantic, Connecticut at Wisdom Within Counseling

Not to mention, neurotransmitters norepinephrine and dopamine play a critical role in the expression of ADHD as well as emotion. Furthermore, these chemicals are most commonly targeted by ADHD medications, but they can prevent children from growing properly. Then, when your child swims, runs, exercises, does yoga, throws a football around, and even laughs, their brain releases loads of these chemicals naturally!

ADHD therapy in East Lyme, Connecticut supports better self-esteem

ADHD Therapy in Niantic, Connecticut: Building New, Neuro-Pathways Long-Term

As a result of exercise and movement therapy, your child’s attention increases. Then, this probes their young brain’s natural ability to release more of these feel-good chemicals, creating new neuro-pathways. Therefore, reducing the need for medication, childhood exercise and  movement therapy in Niantic promotes positive changes in brain structure! Moreover, exercise and movement therapy increases the production of mood-boosting chemicals. And, these chemicals foster focused cognitive function and attention. From creating a safe place, having a therapist to call their own, and knowing they can do movement therapy at anytime as needed, your child can learn positive skills to self-regulate.

Incorporating New Coping Skills For Lifelong Wellness

Also, when compared to walking or running on a treadmill, studies show that complex activities are the best for children with ADHD. But, this is not limited to but includes martial arts, yoga, ballet, gymnastics, mountain biking, rock climbing, and hiking. Often, in child therapy sessions in Niantic, movement therapy includes dance and free movement to music. At other times, movement therapy includes walking to the beach or the playground with your family dog for you and your child to get fresh air and bond. At Wisdom Within Counseling, the team of therapists offer outdoor, nature, and play in ADHD therapy in Niantic, Connecticut.

Movement Therapy in ADHD Therapy at Wisdom Within Counseling in Niantic, Connecticut 

Studies found, the people that practiced more complex skills had more dramatic and significant improvements. For this reason, complex motor skills that are used when exercising boost mood. And, growth in the cerebellum is clinically noted when many muscle groups are used when compared to a simple aerobic activity.

Meaning, children who have ADHD need more stimulation to feel challenged and fulfilled. Therefore, talking while doing movement therapy can be the perfect fit for your child with ADHD. Wisdom Within Counseling offers holistic, art, yoga, and music in ADHD therapy in Niantic, Connecticut.

ADHD: physical strength and a joy for constant activity

Again, children with ADHD benefit from and enjoys being challenged more so than someone without ADHD. Therefore, ADHD therapy in Niantic at Wisdom Within Counseling, is holistic. Furthermore, experiential therapies including art, yoga, music, and animals can be supportive for emotional expression.

Feeling Overwhelmed and Pressure That You “Should” Medicate?

You child’s school may be pushing you to medicate. You parents may pressure you to take medication that you don’t want. First, lets start with a lifestyle approach. When it comes to ADHD therapy, hiking, movement, yoga, and walking can make a huge impact in mental health. Therefore, the team of marriage and family therapists offer art, yoga, music, and outdoor therapy along with talk counseling. Really, we help children feel safe opening up and letting go of negative feelings. Therefore, call/text 860-451-9364 for holistic, creative ADHD therapy in Niantic, Connecticut at Wisdom Within Counseling.

ADHD therapy in East Lyme, Connecticut incorporates joyful movement

Similarly, when a person with ADHD pushes themselves, they not only increase their physical abilities during the exercise, but receive long lasting benefits with improvements in their focus and concentration, cognitive ability, and a boost in attention.

Some Children’s Yoga Poses To Try At Home Today

What is Mountain Pose in Children’s Yoga all about?

First, mountain is a pose where you stand up straight and tall with your hands in Namaste. To start, be strong and tall like a big mountain. And, then you can reach your arms up to the clouds as if you are an even taller, super tall mountain on your tip toes. Would you like to do a private yoga session with just you and your little one? Well, there are many benefits to parent child yoga such as an improved parent child connection. Call/text 860-451-9364 for children’s yoga and playful ADHD therapy in Niantic, Connecticut.

Ideas for mountain, children’s yoga pose at home!

What animals might live with you if you are a mountain? Would it be snowy on your mountain or sunny? Have you have hiked on a mountain? Do you have a wise rock in your life, perhaps a parent or teacher? Mountains are good at observing, watching, and being peaceful.

Volcano pose, in children’s yoga, follows mountain pose. And, you make an explosion with your body, jump in the air, and say, “volcanoooo!”

How Can Children’s Yoga In Niantic Help Children Feel Supported?

And, crescent moon is similar to mountain pose. Here is how to start your children’s yoga pose! Stand up tall and reach your arms up over head, slowly bend over to one side. Feel the stretch in your side belly and in between your ribs. Stand up straight and slowly bend over to the other side. Above is a picture of Katie Ziskind, of Niantic, Connecticut, licensed marriage and family therapist and yoga therapist. In this picture, she was teaching children’s yoga at the Waterford Friendship School. In the past, Katie Ziskind has taught children’s yoga at Gallup Hill School in Ledyard, Connecticut, various preschools in New London, Connecticut, and the Niantic Creative Preschool. Read more about Katie Ziskind on her bio page, here.

Tree Pose In Children’s Yoga

Tree pose in children’s yoga is when you stand up tall. Then, bring your hands to your heart in Namaste. Next, feel your feet grounded in the floor like a tree. And, find a focus point for your eyes for balance (Drishti). Slowly lift one leg, bend it and place your foot onto the ankle, calf or inner thigh of the other leg. Next, make sure to place your foot on the inner calf or inner upper thigh, not your knee, to help avoid injury to your knee. And, you can bring your arms overhead, repeat on the other side.

Tree Pose Topics For You And Your Child

Think about what is going on in the seasons with the trees. Are they changing color?

Notice which side feels easier or harder.

What kind of tree would you be if you could be a tree?

Warrior One Children’s Yoga Pose

Warrior one is known as the brave warrior. Step one foot back, bend your front knee though not extending past your ankle, bring arms out to the side reaching them overhead. Repeat on the other side. Below is a photo of the first graders at the Waterford Friendship School who I taught in May of 2011. Warrior Two is know as the strong warrior. From warrior one, reach your arms out to your sides, look over your front fingertips. Make sure your front knee is bent forward, though not extending over your ankle. Repeat on the other side. Warrior Three is also know as airplane.

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Creating A Positive Change In Your Child With ADHD

At times, exercise may serve as a suitable replacement for prescription medications. For some, exercise can be complimentary and adjunct to their treatment. Also, some even feel a cognitive boost for to three hours after exercise and other feel this for longer. As a group of East Lyme child therapists, we strongly believe in lifestyle changes first, then considering medication.

Lastly, your child with ADHD can feel stronger, more confident, and have better self-esteem as a result of the unique, different, creative therapies at Wisdom Within Counseling in Niantic.

ADHD therapy in East Lyme, Connecticut helps children and teenagers feel stronger

In conclusion, children, teens, and adults can feel stronger, confidence, and learn emotional regulation while releasing emotions through movement therapy. And, when asked to talk about emotions, children often feel internalized shame. Therefore, we focus on helping your child learn positive coping skills through creative, holistic therapies.

Then, through therapy in Niantic for children with ADHD, your child can experience success in other areas of life such as school, work, family, and peers naturally. And, all from having a safe place and a therapist outside of their family, your child can learn positive coping skills that he or she can use years into their future, in middle school and high school.

To begin, click the button below for a phone consult for play therapy and movement for your child with ADHD today.

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