Children & Learning Difficulties Therapy
in Northern, VA
Empowering Parents: Navigate Childhood Struggles and Learning Difficulties with Expert Guidance
As no two strands of DNA are the same, no child is the same as another. At Finding Solutions, we understand that your child’s brain is unique, as well as their perspective. How your child experiences the world is different from how another child might.
Our child therapists use different approaches and techniques based on the child’s specific age and needs. We address a wide range of concerns that children face, including:
Anxiety & Lack of Confidence
We help teens and young adults develop effective strategies for managing their emotions. We also teach individuals how to cope with stress, anxiety, depression, anger, and other emotional challenges.
Mood and Affect Regulation Issues
We encourage children to understand and managetheir emotions effectively.
Trauma
We help children heal from traumatic experiences and develop healthy coping mechanisms.
Family & Attachment Issues
We address difficulties in family relationships and strengthen parent-child bonds.
Peer Pressure
We help children navigate peer relationships and make healthy choices.
Attention Deficit & School Problems
Assisting children in managing attention difficulties and addressing academic challenges.
Grief, Loss & Sadness
We provide a safe space for children to process feelings of grief or sadness due to loss or major life changes.
Defiant & Aggressive Behavior
We teach children appropriate ways to express themselves and manage challenging behaviors.
Adjustment Issues
We help children adapt to changes in their environment. Examples include life situations like moving to a new school or dealing with divorce.
Co-parenting
We support parents in effective co-parenting and address any challenges that arise in the family dynamic.
Common Types of Therapy for Kids
Let’s talk about counseling options for kids. Just like adults, children can struggle with mental health issues. If your child is often worried or anxious, it might be time to seek professional help. Here are some types of counseling that could help:
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Changing negative thoughts and behaviors. It’s great for kids dealing with anxiety or depression.
Play Therapy
Using play to help kids express and work through their problems, especially if it’s hard for them to talk about their feelings.
Family Therapy
Involves the whole family
to sort out conflicts and improve communication.
Our clinicians might begin with traditional therapy and refer your child for psychological testing or educational-based learning assessments later. These tests help us assess and establish a game plan for children with learning differences. We aim to help your child heal, improve behavior, build confidence, learn better social and mental coping skills, and flourish.
What Does Learning Difficulties Mean?
Learning differences refer to variations in the way individuals acquire and process information. These differences can impact different aspects of learning, such as reading and spelling. Sometimes they may impact skills related to written and spoken language. Students with learning differences may face challenges in reading comprehension, written language, and math.
Children with learning differences may have attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or other disabilities that impact their motor skills. These challenges can make it harder for them to process information and understand concepts.
Types of Learning Disabilities
Language-based learning disabilities affect spoken and written language skills. These can manifest as reading, writing, and math difficulties despite average or above-average intelligence in other areas. Nonverbal learning disorders are another specific learning disability. Nonverbal disabilities affect visual-spatial reasoning, fine motor skills, and social interactions.
More specific learning disabilities include:
Dyslexia
Difficulty with reading, spelling, and sometimes writing despite average or above-average intelligence.
Dyscalculia
Difficulty with mathematical concepts and calculations.
Dysgraphia
Difficulty with motor skills and written expression required for writing.
Auditory Processing Disorder
Difficulty processing and interpreting auditory information can impact language-based skills.
How We Diagnose a Learning Disability or Difficulty
Diagnosing a learning disability is a comprehensive process involving multiple steps and qualified clinicians’ assessments. Here’s a more detailed look at how our educational diagnostician might diagnose a learning disability:
Our clinicians thoroughly assess individuals and provide the support and resources needed to overcome learning challenges. Our goal is to help your loved one reach their full potential academically and personally.
Initial Screening
Clinicians often begin by conducting an initial screening to identify potential signs of a learning disability. This may involve reviewing the individual’s academic history, observing their behavior in academic settings, and gathering information from parents, teachers, and other relevant sources.
Comprehensive Assessment
If we suspect your child has a learning disability, we’ll conduct a comprehensive assessment. This assessment typically includes:
- Cognitive Assessment: We evaluate the individual’s intellectual functioning using standardized tests to identify any underlying cognitive deficits that may contribute to learning difficulties.
- Academic Assessment: Clinicians assess the individual’s academic skills in areas like reading, writing, mathematics, and language. This helps identify specific areas of difficulty and provides insight into their academic performance compared to peers.
- Observation: We observe the individual’s behavior and performance in academic settings to better understand their learning difficulties and how they manifest in real-life situations.
Specific Learning Tasks
Clinicians assess the individual’s performance on specific learning tasks to identify areas of difficulty. For example, they may assess reading comprehension, spelling, writing fluency, mathematical reasoning, and other skills related to academic performance.
Standardized Tests
Standardized tests assess specific aspects of learning like reading comprehension, spelling, and mathematical abilities. They provide standardized measures, enabling clinicians to compare an individual’s performance to their peers.
Collaboration with Other Professionals
We team up with educational psychologists, speech-language pathologists, and special education teachers to gather insights on the individual’s learning difficulties.
Diagnostic Criteria
We use the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-5) and other relevant guidelines to determine criteria for a specific learning disability.
Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or 504 Plan
Based on the assessment, clinicians collaborate with the individual, their parents, and educational professionals to create a personalized education plan (IEP) or a 504 plan. These plans outline accommodations and support services to aid the individual’s academic success.