About Counselling for Children
Many people assume counselling is limited to adults; however counselling children may be required to help them overcome issues that may have an impact on their future lives.
Childhood should be an easy and carefree time. But children too can experience difficult times, particularly after stressful events such as divorce or a death in the family. During these times, children may feel confused and may act out accordingly.
In these times, parents need to provide children with extra support. In many cases, this support is enough to help children adjust to challenging times. However, often parents may also being finding it difficult to cope and cannot provide their children with an adequate level of support. This is when counselling should be considered.
Getting help from a professional gives children a ‘safe’ place to understand their feelings. Because children can feel protective of their parents feelings, or feel as though their parents may get upset or angry about what the child says, talking to an outsider can provide that safe environment.
How to decide if your child needs counselling
You should consider counselling for your child if they start to act out, become violent or become quiet and withdrawn after a stressful life event. Some common signs which may indicate child therapy are outlined below. Although many children will display these signs throughout their childhood, counselling should be considered when the behaviour becomes extreme or prolonged.
Signs that children may need counselling:
- Withdrawn behaviour, such as not wanting to play with friends
- Long periods of sadness
- Anger, violence or temper tantrums
- Constant worry and anxious behavior
- Feelings of responsibility for separation or divorce
- Difficulty concentrating
- Sleeping difficulties
- Loss of appetite
- Return to younger behaviours
- Heavy attachment to parents
How child therapy sessions work
Usually the first counselling sessions are conducted with both the parent(s) and child together in order to allow them both to get to know the psychologist. Often counselling with children works better when the parents are actively involved and act as co-therapists when the child is at home.
Once both the parent and child are comfortable and the child feels safe with the psychologist, sessions may continue with the child alone. As children tend to respond differently when a parent is in the room, they may share more about their feelings when they are alone with the psychologist without fear of a reaction from the parent.
Counselling children can be conducted using a variety of different methods, such as using drawings and other activities to help children better express their feelings.
It is important for the child to know that counselling sessions are confidential. However, the child should have an understanding that their counsellor may think it is necessary for a parent to be informed of certain things. In cases where the counsellor would like to speak to a parent, the child’s permission will be sought first in order to maintain their trust and confidentially. There are also certain mandatory reporting requirements that may require the psychologist to report some issues.
How Life Resolutions® can help
Life Resolutions® has a network of qualified psychologists, some with special expertise in working with children. We can also schedule separate sessions with parents or individuals to help them cope with their feelings about their child’s issues.
Visit the contact us page to make an appointment.