Counselling For Children
Your child is perfectly unique, and all children naturally respond to different situations in their own individual way, but if you are concerned about your child, it is always worth seeking professional help.
Therapy for young children typically involves a range of approaches designed to help them express and manage their emotions, develop social and communication skills, and build resilience. Depending on the child's age and specific needs, different types of therapy may be recommended.
Play therapy is a common approach used in therapy for young children. Play therapy involves using play as a way for children to communicate and express their emotions. A trained therapist will engage the child in play activities, such as drawing, storytelling, and using toys and games, to help the child work through difficult emotions and experiences.
Changes You May Have Noticed
Here are some common behaviours and signs you may notice, which may indicate that further support might be needed:
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Afraid to try things on his/her own, has high anxiety or gives up easily.
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Act out or shut down in stressful situations.
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Complaining of aches and pains.
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Disrupted sleep patterns.
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Expressing negative thoughts, or a particularly low opinion of themselves, for example that they are a ‘bad’ child.
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Frequently get into trouble at school.
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Often engage you in power struggles.
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Provoking or lashing out at other children.
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Strong desire to avoid school or to stay with you at all times.
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Struggling to adjust to a life-changing event (i.e. moving, divorce, death of a family member or pet, a new sibling).
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Sudden or extreme changes in behaviour, such as becoming very withdrawn and uncommunicative, or alternatively lashing out and becoming boisterous or even violent.
Working With Children
I have experience in counselling children, young people, and supporting parents and carers. I’ve supported children through some of their most difficult times in life such as anxiety, absent parents, behavioural issues, bereavement, bullying, and divorce. I also work with children who struggle with confidence, identity, low self-esteem, and socialising.
Therapy with me will give your child the opportunity to talk about their thoughts and feelings without the fear of judgement. Speaking to a counsellor, away from their home and school life, often feels neutral and can take away some of the pressure.
Counselling will offer a safe environment for children to express their feelings and understand what may have caused them to feel this way.
Children's Therapy Sessions
I offer counselling for children of all ages. The methods I use in sessions will depend on your child’s age, situation and their development. There are many techniques that may be used to encourage children to express their feelings better, such as art or play therapy.
Please also note that I run support groups for children throughout the year (Groups).
Finding the right counsellor for your child is important, so I offer an initial 15 minute free telephone consultation with no obligation or commitment to book any further sessions. This will give you the opportunity to see if you think that your child will feel comfortable with me and the way that I work.
Children's Play Therapy
Play therapy is a form of therapy that utilises play to help children cope with and overcome various emotional, behavioural, or developmental challenges. Play therapy is often used with children between the ages of 3 and 12, but can also be effective for adolescents and adults.
In play therapy, a trained therapist provides a safe and supportive environment in which the child is encouraged to express themselves through play. The therapist may use a range of play materials such as toys, art supplies, puppets, or games to facilitate communication and exploration of emotions.
Play therapy can be helpful for children dealing with a variety of issues such as anxiety, depression, trauma, grief, or behavioural problems. Through play therapy, children can develop new coping strategies, build emotional regulation skills, improve communication and social skills, and gain a greater sense of self-confidence and self-esteem.
It's important to note that play therapy is typically used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan, and may be used in conjunction with other therapeutic approaches and interventions.
