Child Psychotherapy in London

Children communicate what they cannot yet say through play, through images, through the quality of their behaviour rather than through verbal reflection. Child psychotherapy works within this natural language of childhood, using play and creative media as the primary therapeutic medium rather than expecting young clients to articulate their experience in adult terms.

The presentations that bring children to therapy are varied: anxiety and specific fears, difficulties following divorce or significant family disruption, the aftermath of trauma or loss, selective mutism, attachment difficulties, emotional and behavioural difficulties at home or school, and developmental concerns. What they have in common is that something has disturbed the child’s capacity to develop and flourish in the ordinary way, and that this disturbance is not resolving through the usual means of parental support and time.

The role of parents in child psychotherapy

Child psychotherapy always involves parents as well as the child. Regular parent consultations run alongside the child’s individual sessions, providing a space to discuss how things are at home and at school, to understand what the child is working on in their sessions without breaching the confidentiality of the child’s space, and to support parents in understanding and responding to their child’s emotional life differently. In some cases, the presenting difficulty is better addressed through parent work alone or through family therapy, and the initial assessment will clarify which approach is most appropriate.

Age range and referral

The practice works with children from approximately 5 years upward and with adolescents up to 18. Referrals can be made directly by parents or via schools, GPs, or other professionals. An initial consultation with parents precedes the first session with the child, establishing the history of the difficulty and the family context.