In child psychotherapy the therapist will match the appropriate approach to the individual child.
Child Psychotherapy
Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties
Children who are eligible for psychotherapy appear to experience both mental and behavioural issues. Schools also perceive developmental issues when parents have transitioned to interacting with the infant in the home environment. Emotional and behavioural problems can often be the product of a number of causes, including stressful events, intellectual disorders, susceptibility to violence, or developmental delays.
Children can also be referred to as infant psychotherapy for depression, fear, frustration or violence, eating habits, self-harm, phobias, and other tension induced issues and obstacles in the child’s existence.
Treatment Options
In child psychotherapy, as well as in the treatment of adults, the therapist will match the appropriate approach to the individual child. At Philippe Jacquet & Associates our experienced psychotherapists who work with our youngest clients have the ability to build rapport, establish trust and to create meaningful therapeutic sessions based on the child’s developmental stage and abilities.
The services offered through child psychotherapy can include assessments and evaluations, short and long term therapy, individual and group sessions as well as support and assistance for the parents. The sessions will be tailored to meet the needs of the individual client and the family with regards to addressing specific emotional and behavioural issues that are having negative effects.
Forms of Interventions
Many children are not developmentally able to express themselves on a deep level and the “talk” styles of therapy may not be appropriate. For these children there are a range of other therapeutic options that can be highly effective. However, building trust is absolutely essential so the child is comfortable in discussing or displaying the issues that are the triggers or stressors that he or she is experiencing.
Play therapy is a technique used with young children that allows a therapist trained in this approach to guide a child, through play, to explore their feelings, thoughts and experiences. This approach is effective for children typically under 12 years of age and allows them to act out, through their manipulation of toys and the environment, the challenges they are facing. They can also learn better coping mechanisms through the same process and with guidance from the psychotherapist. Art therapy and child-centred talk therapies are all part of an integrated approach used to customise the treatment for the young client.
Duration of Treatment
As with any type of therapy, the duration of child psychotherapy treatment will be highly individualised. Early treatment is seen as the best option as this allows the child to develop new, positive, healthy coping strategies that will minimize the risk of emotional and behavioural difficulties going forward into adolescence and adulthood.
Posted by: Philippe Jacquet