Starting child counseling can bring relief and nerves at the same time. Parents often wonder what will happen in the room, how involved they’ll be, and how quickly things might change at home or school. At O’Neill Counseling, child counseling is designed to help kids feel safe, understood, and supported while giving families practical tools to move forward.
Session 1: Getting to know your child and your goals
The first session is usually about connection and clarity. The counselor will learn what’s bringing you in, what you’ve noticed at home or school, and what goals matter most to your family. For kids, this often looks like a calm, age appropriate conversation and activities that help them feel comfortable.
Parents may be asked about sleep, routines, school stress, friendships, big life changes, or symptoms like anxiety or sadness. This helps the counselor understand the full picture, not just one tough moment.
Session 2: Building trust and starting skill building
Once your child feels safe, therapy can begin teaching coping skills. Depending on the child’s needs, this may include mindfulness based tools, emotional regulation strategies, and ways to name feelings without getting overwhelmed. O’Neill Counseling also offers approaches such as EMDR in appropriate cases, which can support clients dealing with distressing experiences.
Parents might receive simple guidance between sessions, like one communication shift, a calm down routine, or a way to reinforce progress at home. Small, consistent changes tend to work best.
Session 3: Strengthening progress and involving the family
By the third session, the counselor often has enough insight to refine goals and build a plan. For some kids, family sessions can help improve routines, reduce conflict, and support better communication. If your child is struggling with school stress or behavior, this is where parents often start seeing patterns and learning how to respond more effectively.
How soon will you see results?
Every child is different. Many families notice early wins, like fewer blowups or better sleep, when therapy focuses on doable strategies and steady support. The most important step is starting.
Karen Majdalani, LMFT (Lic. #132761) holds Master’s degrees in Psychoanalysis and in Marriage and Family Therapy, and has been practicing since 2015. She co-founded O’Neill Counseling with Sean O’Neill to provide affordable, insurance-based therapy for families, children, teens, and couples in Orange County. At O’Neill Counseling, she leads a team of associate therapists with diverse expertise, including trauma recovery, EMDR therapy, anxiety and depression treatment, and child and adolescent disorders. Karen is passionate about creating a safe and supportive space for growth, healing, and connection.