Our child psychologists seek to offer the best possible treatment for your children, including:
The age range for treatment of children is from 4 to 18 years of age.
Our child psychologists can offer support for the following issues:
During these years, children often need help to:
During these years, parents may begin to notice differences in their children’s development. Parents may notice that their children are not developing at the same pace as their peers.
Parent education is a common part of therapy for this age group.
Neurological, cognitive disabilities and social issues are first noticed and diagnosed at this age. Parents may need support and psychoeducation to understand what these diagnoses mean and how they can be treated.
Some interventions that are common for this age group are:
Children of this age find support to identify and communicate emotions very helpful. Sadly, this is also the time when some children experience grief and loss in relation to losing elderly relatives. There is also a high likelihood that children are the victims of bullying at school. This is often hard to navigate for a child and expert support helps.
Some interventions that are common for this age group are:
As children develop throughout their primary school years, they are undergoing significant changes. They require support around:
If children have suffered trauma or setbacks, they will need support. Some children experience significant shyness and find trying new things really scary. They hold worries inside and don’t yet have the emotional expression to say how they are feeling.
The above mentioned issues may be dealt with in an individual, one-on-one modality. Or they may be better treated using a family therapy model, where other family members take part in sessions.
Family therapy sessions focus on:
Counselling children utilises a family therapy model where there following elements may feature:
The child or young person will have a say in who participates in the family therapy session.
Factors to consider include:
Family therapy enables family members to:
The expectation of the parent is to provide emotional support or practical support. The issue may be around parenting or behavioural management. If this is the case, a higher percentage of the work we do is directly with the parent. We will be providing parent coaching and counselling.
Treatment for this age group requires a child psychologist to think creatively. This helps to engage with your child in a way that will foster their progress. We use expressive therapies such as play and art as a means to enable children to express themselves. Through these strategies the child will gain understanding of their situation.
There is some element of teaching in therapy as well. Children often require support to learn concepts such as emotions and feelings.
They also require some coaching for practicing the methods they learn. This will help consolidate their therapy.
The challenges of parenting and disciplining a child can place a strain on relationships. Couples may find themselves having different opinions about how to manage these challenges. Many couples recognise the importance of being on the same team and setting good examples for their children.
Our marriage counsellors can provide support and help during these stressful times. A strong couple relationship is one of the best gifts that you can give your child.
