Every child learns, develops, and copes differently. Navigating emotions, home life, and school can be stressful or confusing for kids of all ages. Child therapy is an effective tool for helping kids deal with problems and feelings as well as various mental, behavioural, and developmental disorders. Read on to learn about what therapy for children is, signs a child may need therapy, the benefits, and more.

What Is Child Therapy?

Child therapy is a specialized form of therapy specifically for children. Therapists work with the child to help them understand and manage their emotions and behaviours. Occasionally, therapy for kids also includes the parents and/or family of the child.

A child may benefit from therapy if they’re experiencing an increase in anxiety, if their parents are going through a divorce, or if they find it challenging to control aggressive behaviour. In contrast to adult therapy, this therapy often involves games and activities in addition to talking.

Therapy can help children deal with:

  • Bullying
  • Anxiety
  • Difficulty in school
  • Problems at home
  • ADHD
  • Self-harm
  • Traumatic events

Types of Child Therapy

The most suitable type of therapy for a child can vary based on their stage of development and the reason for therapy. Here is a list of the different types of therapy available for children:

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT)

Cognitive behavioural therapy helps kids better understand the relationship between their thoughts, feelings, and actions. They learn how to identify negative ways of thinking and replace them with healthier ones. Sessions can include talk therapy, worksheets, and acting out scenarios.

Play Therapy

During play therapy, the therapist observes the child as they play both by themselves and with others. A child’s imagination is often reflective of real-world situations and feelings. Play therapy is ideal for children who have difficulty using words to express themselves.

Family Therapy

Family therapy involves working with the child and one or more members of their family. The therapist helps address conflicts or concerns that are putting a strain on the child’s emotional wellbeing. This may include parents getting divorced, a family member with a health crisis, or overall family dynamics.

Parent-child Interaction Therapy (PCIT)

During PCIT, parents play with their child while the therapist observes either behind a two-way mirror or on video. The goal of PCIT is to have parents interact more positively with the child. The therapist will be able to use their observations to help guide the parents.

Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT)

DBT can help children of all ages but is primarily used with teens who are experiencing suicidal thoughts or behaviours. DBT is a form of talk therapy similar to CBT. The child will learn how to identify and respond to triggers, unhelpful thought patterns, and harmful behaviours.

Behavioural Therapy

Behavioural therapy for kids is used to reinforce a child’s positive behaviours while reducing negative ones. Children learn how to develop and follow healthy routines as well as increase their self-control. The child behavioral therapist will often suggest to do at-home work, such as initiating a reward or checklist system between parent and child.

Occupational Therapy (OT)

OT is beneficial for children with sensory sensitivities, learning disabilities, and development delays. With the help of an occupational therapist, children can refine their motor skills, improve their cognitive function, and develop their independence and self-esteem.

Signs Your Child May Need Therapy

  • Major Mood or Temperament Change: Signs include uncontrollable outbursts, crying over minor inconveniences, arguing more than usual, and unprovoked anger.
  • Withdrawing from Social Situations: A withdrawn child may be disinterested in playing or socializing with their friends or family, decline invitations to birthday parties, or choose not to participate in normal hobbies such as soccer, dance, or drama club.
  • Shift in Habits: A shift in habits may look like more or less eating, sleeping, talking, or playing. As a result, you may notice bags under your child’s eyes, a change in their weight, or poorer grades.
  • Difficulty in Paying Attention: Your child may be less focused at school, mishear people while they’re talking, become disengaged during conversations, or need to be instructed multiple times to perform a task.
  • Issues with Problem Solving: Kids who are stressed, anxious, or depressed, as well as children who have an underlying cognitive disorder, may have a hard time solving simple problems. They may refuse help because they’re embarrassed or are suffering from low self-esteem.
  • Regressing to Younger Behaviour: A child with autism, ADHD, or another behavioural disorder can move backwards in terms of development rather than forwards. This may be because they doubt their abilities or are unable to successfully progress to the next stage.
  • Having Trouble Sleeping: Difficulty sleeping can cause kids to wake up multiple time during the night, have nightmares, and make it hard for them to fall asleep. Tired kids may have bags under their eyes, lose focus easily, have problems at school, or pass out from exhaustion.

How Does Therapy for Kids Work?

Children’s therapy, much like adult therapy, is a process. The journey often involves hard work, patience, and understanding from the parents and the child. The following is a brief outline of how therapy for kids works:

  • Consultation: Once you have chosen a therapist, you’ll meet either in person, by phone, or over video. The therapist will inquire about your child’s medical history, behaviour, emotional state, performance in school, and any significant life events they’re going through. They may also want to learn more about your family dynamics in order to see the full picture.
  • Observation: The kid psychologist will often want to observe how you and your child interact. This gives them valuable insight into how the child communicates and behaves.
  • Discussion: In order for therapy to be successful, the therapist must understand the hopes and expectations of therapy with either the parents, child, or both. Goals can then be set to measure progress throughout the therapy sessions.
  • Goal Setting: Depending on the reasoning behind the therapy, the child’s therapeutic goals may be behavioural, developmental, emotional, or relationship oriented.

Benefits of Children’s Therapy

Children’s therapy is very beneficial and can have a major influence on their future success. Depending on the type of therapy, your child may improve their emotional intelligence, increase their self-awareness, and enhance their cognitive function. The following are benefits of therapy for kids:

Therapies such as CBT and behavioural therapy can teach children new social skills that allow them to communicate and make friends with less anxiety. Regularly meeting with a therapist to discuss their thoughts and feeling also builds social skills regardless of the therapy’s intent.

Therapy validates a child’s emotions rather than dismissing them. That validation support can greatly boost a child’s self-esteem. Learning and practicing healthy thought patterns helps alter a child’s perspective of themselves and gives them more confidence to be who they really are.

During therapy sessions with the child behavioral therapist, children must express their thoughts and feelings through verbal and non-verbal communication. The therapist will teach the child how to identify their feelings and control their response to them.

Sometimes children can hide their true emotions because they are ashamed or scared. Therapy is a safe place for children to open up about the conflict in their lives and address how they are truly feeling.

Behavioural therapy, OT, CBT, and DBT each target different health concerns including autism spectrum disorder, OCD, depression, and speech delay. With the assistance of a licensed and qualified professional children can make great strides towards a healthy, happier, and successful future.

What to Expect During a Therapy Session

Once the therapist, parents, and potentially the child have set and understand the therapeutic goals, the sessions can begin. While every child’s experience with therapy will vary, you can typically expect the following:

  • Regular Sessions: No matter the goal, therapy is often a long process that involves multiple sessions. These may occur on a weekly or monthly basis and vary from one to two hours.
  • Different Activities: Therapy for children can involve activities such as drawing, playing games, role-playing, talking, completing worksheets, or reading books.
  • Feedback from Therapists: A key part of therapy for kids is continuous feedback. The therapist will provide parents with progress updates. They may also suggest at-home activities or checklists to assist parents in the child’s therapy.
  • Evaluation: As goals are met, the therapist will continually evaluate whether further progress needs to be made. If the therapist, child, and parents are happy with the results, sessions will be reduced and eventually ended to ensure a smooth transition.

Start Therapy for Your Child Today

Looking into and starting child therapy can feel like a big decision and step to make for parents and children. Positive Mind Wellness is fully equipped with the professionals and knowledge to ease your concerns and help your child or teen reach their full potential.

Contact Positive Mind Wellness today to book a free discovery session where you can ask questions and gain a better understanding of how we’re able to help you and your child.

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FAQs

The timeline for kid’s therapy varies for everyone. Some children may spend a longer time in therapy than others, depending on their goals and the type of therapy. Therapy for children can last anywhere from a few weeks to a few years.

Therapy for kids is nothing to be ashamed or embarrassed about. It’s always best to be open and honest with your child about why they’re attending therapy and how it will be able to help them. While younger children such as ages 3 to 5 may not need or understand all the details, children 6 and up may be curious or confused about the process if left without an explanation. Awareness is also an integral part of recovery in children with mental health issues.

Patience, collaboration, and understanding are key to support children through therapy.

Here are a few tips to supporting your child in therapy:

  • Encourage your child to meet their therapeutic goals without pressuring them.
  • Listen to the therapist’s advice and implement recommend strategies.
  • Communicate what seems to be working or not working at home with the therapist.
  • Create a log or journal to track progress and write down strategies.

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