Child Therapy
Child Therapy
What is Child Therapy?
Counselling for children is often through play, where play is used as a means of helping children express themselves or communicate their feelings. Therapy through play can be useful for children and adolescents who have difficulty understanding or expressing their feelings, thoughts and emotions.
It is a useful method of meeting and responding to the child's mental health needs, and is extensively acknowledged by experts as an effective and suitable intervention in dealing with children's brain development.
It is a useful alternative to solely talking, whilst it promotes exploration of thoughts and feelings and can enable them to make sense of their world and can be used alongside talking.
I have worked with children in schools within a recognised organisation and completed extensive training which has enabled me to offer this therapeutic service to children and young people, in order to facilitate change in them.
Why Use Child Therapy?
As children’s experience and knowledge are often communicated through play, it becomes an important vehicle for them to know and accept themselves. Play therapy is often used for children age 3-11, though I will often apply the key concepts to older children depending on their needs and abilities.
I will discuss and sign a contract with the parent or main caregiver before working with the young person, as well as negotiating a contract with the young person at our first session before our work begins, this is to ensure that they understand what is going to happen in the sessions and what to expect and what is expected from us both, ie, boundaries, information sharing. This is taking into consideration their understanding and will be developmental and age-appropriate. This can differ to the adult contract and can include drawings etc.
I recommend that in order for the child/young person to get ultimate benefit from the service that you expect them to have at least 6 sessions, this is due to the fact that it can take a few sessions before they start feeling at ease with me and comfortable to get the most from our time, I also recommend that for their emotional and mental well-being, the ending is negotiated and planned and worked towards over a few sessions, as it can cause more distress if the sessions are just stopped suddenly.
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