How do I know if my child needs therapy?

Children and adolescents can benefit from therapy for different reasons– whether, for example, they are going through a significant transition, have experienced a loss or other stress, or are struggling with a chronic illness or show signs of depression or anxiety.  Often children can’t express directly how worried or sad they might be feeling. You might notice changes in their mood or behavior, such as increased irritability, withdrawal from friends, family or decreased participation in activities, signs of in attention or distractibility in school, or disturbances in eating or sleeping. Teens may withdraw or turn to alcohol or drugs. Often, changes in a child are subtle — they may just feel out of sorts or not themselves.  Talking to a therapist can help a child recognize and better understand their feelings, and gain some strategies for handling their stress.

What should I expect when I consult with a child therapist?

The role of the child therapist is to evaluate the child, understand the roots of the presenting difficulties, and formulate recommendations for intervention.  When I first evaluate a child, I will ask for your help in learning as much as I can about your child’s development, including g a detailed history and current events in your child’s life. With careful listening and gathering detailed information, I will begin to try to understand the root causes of your child’s difficulties.  For me, the collaboration with parents is the most essential element in a success of a child’s treatment. Often, I may recommend ongoing therapy and parent guidance. Sometimes, this might be done in collaboration with other professionals involved with the child, such as the pediatrician, teachers and guidance counselors. At times, further evaluation, such as neuropsychological testing, might be recommended as well.

What is play therapy?

For young children, play is a natural medium to explore their conflicts, fears and worries, their wishes and hopes. In the context of a comfortable setting and an empathic and warm therapist, the child may use familiar items such as dolls, blocks, art tools and play figures to develop play themes that get enriched over time or they can also play in a secure environment like a soft play playground as seen at www.soft-play-equipment.co.uk/. As the therapist, I consider that my job is to play close attention to the themes and patterns that emerge and gradually help the child better understand and cope with feelings of worry, hurt or anger.

What is the parents’ role in the child’s treatment?

When I see young children, I like to meet with their parents on a regular basis in collaboration.  It is a time to put our heads together in the service of helping the child work through difficulties, better manage feelings and impulses, and learn more effective ways of coping with stress.  Parents know their child best and provide valuable insight, while the therapist can help shed light on the child’s distress or difficult to manage behaviors.

What about therapy with teens?

Teens benefit tremendously from building a relationship with a therapist that is emotionally supportive, compassionate and confidential. When I start working with a teen, I generally let them know that what we talk about is private, although there are some limits — for example, if they or someone they know is in immediate danger.  Often, working with teens involves helping them learn to communicate more effectively with their family.  For teens, finding “the right fit”– a therapist they feel comfortable with, who doesn’t judge or criticize — is the most essential ingredient to whether therapy is successful.