Child counselling is a form of therapy that focuses on helping young children, teens, and adolescents that face any sort of mental illness.
As adults, we are prone to thinking children or teens don’t go through the same struggles we do. However, children are just as likely as adults to develop anxiety, depression and other issues. What’s more, children rarely understand what they are going through, which makes the job of a professional child counsellor much more difficult.
Child therapists use engaging methods such as drawing, storytelling, or playing to break down these issues and help young patients understand and cope with them.
How is child counselling different from adult counselling?
Adults and children have very different methods to handle the challenges laid in front of them. This is why techniques used in adult therapy may not work for young patients.
At UK Therapy Guide, we understand children need a safe environment to open up and talk about how they feel without fearing they might be judged. Taking off some of this pressure will encourage children to express their feelings and allow the counsellor to help them understand why they might be feeling the way they do.
Depending on the child’s age, there are many methods counsellors at UK Therapy Guide use in order to encourage a successful therapy session. These methods can include playing games, using art as a form of expression, storytelling, and reading. For example, reading stories and then discussing how specific characters react in or feel about certain situations can help children understand emotions better. This helps them understand these emotions are normal and encourages them to talk about their own feelings as well.
Based on the age and condition of the child, parents or caregivers may be asked to assist those sessions.
Benefits of child counselling
While methods may differ, the ultimate goal of both adult and child counselling is to help the individual cope with the struggles there are going through. For children, therapy can provide a number of benefits, including support for the following issues:
- Learning difficulties
- Bullying
- Depression and anxiety
- Attachment disorder
- Separation anxiety
- Behavioural problems
- Witnessing or experiencing traumatic events
How do I know my child needs counselling?
Children use various methods to signal something is not right, and they differ a lot from adults. Acting out of character or showing signs of rebellion may be considered normal behaviour for a child. Still, such actions can also signal they are going through something they don’t want or don’t know how to talk about. This means it may be time to consider seeking a therapist to help you understand where this behaviour is coming from.
If your child has experienced a traumatic event, such the death of a loved one, divorce, or being diagnosed with a chronic illness, it may be wise to have a counsellor discuss these events with them.
At UK Therapy Guide, we can put you in touch with an accredited child counsellor. All you need to do is fill in the form you can find by clicking here, and we will find a suited practitioner for your child.
