Therapy for children
I can help the child better understand themselves or a situation which they are in. Also, I have clean enhanced disclosure check and adhere to the ethical guidelines of the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy.
I use a variety of play and creative arts techniques to help a child express their feelings. This helps them to better understand and deal with a range of psychological and emotional conditions, either consciously or sub-consciously, which otherwise may be causing them to experience behavioural problems or prevent them from realising their full potential.
Therapy for children through play has consistently been proven neurologically to promote a child’s social, emotional, cognitive, and language development. When play is coupled with emotional support it can enable a child to explore and learn more about their thoughts and feelings. Therapy is usually non-directive and allows the child freedom to decide what they want to do or say in each session.
Tools such as art, storytelling, puppets, drama or clay, are employed to facilitate expression without requiring the verbalisation of issues which a child may be unable to talk about, either due to an Anxiety Disorder or a lack of comprehension. The process is often a gradual one, advancing at the child’s own pace. It can sometimes last anywhere from between just a few sessions to several years.
Many children have issues with Emotional Literacy. Therapy may be of benefit in situations where:
- The child has experienced physical, emotional or sexual abuse, bereavement or another emotionally traumatic event;
- The child has been or is in the process of being fostered or adopted or where their parents are in the process of getting or are already divorced or separated;
- The child has been or is at risk of being excluded from school or where they are bullying or is being bullied;
- The child or a close family member is affected by an illness or a disability;
- The child suffers from frequent nightmares or disturbed sleep, anxiety, stress or phobias, withdrawal or just continued unhappiness;
- The child has a continuing inability to tell the difference between fantasy and reality or where they are exhibiting noticeable regression in development following an emotional trauma