As you are reading this you will no doubt be worried that your child/teenager has a problem which is causing them to be sad, withdrawn, anxious or at risk.
Thinking about your concern is the start of addressing difficulties. Considering that your child needs therapeutic support is often not an easy or comfortable decision to make. Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists are trained and experienced in meeting with children, families and adolescents and are aware of the anxieties families are concerned with. Having an initial meeting, even a telephone conversation can start to help you to think what support may be needed and how you can proceed.
Child Psychotherapy offers age appropriate therapy using toys and drawing materials for the younger children and drawing and writing materials for younger teenagers. This is all to help your child communicate their feelings and engage with understanding their distress. Through play and talking with your child we can think about how they manage their relationships and strengthen their emotional resources enabling them to work through their distress. Along side individual sessions as parents or carers you could be offered regular appointments with a therapist help support and keep attuned to your child’s needs.
When meeting with a child we think about two sets of experiences and how they impact on each other, the internal emotional world and the external every day environment. Each of these experiences will show themselves within the work and relationship with the psychotherapist. Child Psychotherapists also take into consideration a child’s age and development, their ability to learn and understand. All these aspects are looked at and worked with in helping repair and strengthen your child’s mental health and well being.
What Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists help with-:
- Low moods
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Melt downs
- Anger, agitation
- Eating difficulties
- Distress from abuse and domestic violence
- Trauma
- Relationship difficulties
- Self harm
- Suicidal thoughts
We have also produced a leaflet for the parents of young children diagnosed with cancer: