Child Psychologists: How Can They Help You and Your Child?
A child psychologist can have a positive impact on a child’s sense of well-being and behaviour, which can be a welcome support when raising a family. Parenting is fraught with ups and downs. The three-year-old knock-knock jokes, giggles, and bear hugs go hand-in-hand with the stress, the yelling, and the hair-pulling. At times, the scale tips in the favour of the bring-a-smile-to-your-face moments, but other times, it doesn’t. Some life stages come with more stress, more anxiety, yelling, and hair-pulling. In those moments you want to implode, you may wonder whether seeking outside support can help? What does a clinical psychologist even do? What techniques do they use and what does therapy look like?
Whether you are experiencing intense difficulties with your child or observing the beginnings of concerns, many families find consultation and therapy with a clinical psychologist beneficial. Currently, in Ontario, clinical psychologists typically have a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) or a Psychology Degree (Psy.D.) specializing in the treatment of individuals and families experiencing difficulties with mental health-related issues. Clinical psychologists do not only treat individuals experiencing severe mental health conditions. Many individuals and families access support from clinical psychologists to cope with problems that affect daily life including anxiety, low mood, family conflict, trauma, and life stressors. Clinical psychologists are trained to assess, diagnose, and treat mental health challenges.
Child Therapy Is Confidential
Stigma often surrounds therapy: “It’s just a phase”, “What will others think of us?”, “Only very ill people go to psychologists”, “I don’t need a shrink!”, “It’s not that bad.” Therapy is beneficial to families and children faced with a myriad of stressful situations and conditions – the common everyday issues including parenting and child-related challenges. It is confidential by nature – it has to be so that clients can feel safe discussing what has led them to seek support.
What Does Therapy With A Child Psychologist Look Like?
The initial sessions are used to gather information. Although this does not result in a formal report, the “Assessment-to-treatment” is used as a guide for working with you and/or your family. An assessment-to-treatment may be based upon parent and child interviews, observation, and questionnaires. It allows a psychologist to obtain important information to conceptualize a child’s current needs, understand the factors that are contributing to the problem experienced in the present day, whether a child meets the criteria for a psychological diagnosis, and what type of therapy approach(es) can be helpful in alleviating the symptoms. Though new information will arise through therapy and needs are continuously re-assessed, this initial phase provides a good starting point to establish a working relationship with families, and provides an overall picture to parents so they can better understand what their child is experiencing and what is the recommended treatment. Through discussion, parents and clients engage in planning the goals for therapy together.
What Techniques Does A Child Psychologist Use?
Therapy techniques that a child psychologist uses depend on the age of the client. Games are often used with young children while teenagers feel more comfortable talking when they feel they can trust their therapist. The level of parent involvement also depends on the age of the child and the issues being addressed in therapy. For instance, treating children under the age of 6 years old often includes a family approach as young children are reliant upon their parents for greater support. This may include discussions, games, and/or drawings. However, using games during therapy is different from traditional play therapy. Traditional play therapy can be done in individual sessions or family sessions with one or more family members. Play therapy is used with younger children as they communicate more naturally through play. Feelings and internal conflicts will emerge through their play over time.
What Does Therapy For Children Involve?
Therapy for children may involve mostly parent sessions when support with parenting strategies is needed. Individual therapy with school-aged children may include periodic check-ins with parents for updates and learning strategies to support children at home, while individual therapy with teenagers involves less parent involvement in order to maintain confidentiality and comfort. In some situations, family therapy is used to address communication and family dynamics that contribute to an individual’s symptoms and challenges.
There is often an urge to rush therapy to make the situation better quickly. Some issues can be treated in shorter-term therapy while others require long-term therapy. The length of treatment depends on several factors including the severity of the presenting concern(s), child’s age, treatment approach, family dynamics, and the frequency of sessions.
Comfort is one of the most important aspects of therapy, regardless of the age of the client. Child psychologists strive to listen to the patient’s concerns, provide knowledge, and operate in a transparent and collaborative manner. This sets the tone not just for the now, but for the future as well, as people need support at different times in life. Getting older brings new life stages, developmental milestones, and changes to family dynamics. A child who was seen briefly at the age of 5 years old for the treatment of enuresis (involuntary urination) may return several years later for symptoms of school-related anxiety, or parents’ divorce.
How Can A Child Psychologist Make An Impact?
A positive experience with a child psychologist at a young age can alleviate symptoms and show children and their parents that seeking support and doing therapy is not a failure. Rather, it is a recognition that changes can be made and provide people with confidence that they can manage the ups and downs of life, because – let’s face it – life is full of them. It will also teach children that seeking support from others is normal, perfectly okay and that therapy is available and helpful. If you think that you, your children, or your family may benefit from extra support, know that you are not alone and it may help to meet with a child psychologist for some feedback.
Additional Readings
Book an Appointment
CBT Psychology For Personal Development has experienced child psychologists. If you have a question regarding child therapy or would like to Request An Appointment you can call us at 905-597-4404.
CBT Psychology For Personal Development is located at 7626 Yonge St, Thornhill, ON L4J 1V9.
Our psychologists and psychotherapists offer therapy in Vaughan, Markham, Richmond Hill, York Region.
We offer counselling across Ontario through teletherapy (online counselling using secure video platforms).
