Children, adolescents and families
My scope of practice includes a number of issues affecting children, adolescents and families, such as:
Children: Play is an important form of communication used by children. Play therapy aims to provide a safe environment where children can learn to express their feelings, thoughts, needs and wants. It can also help children to make sense of muddled feelings and work through difficult life experiences which they or their families may not have the resources to cope with on their own.
What to expect - The initial 3-6 sessions comprise an emotional assessment. At the initial session I like to see the child and parents. I may then ask to see various family members either individually or together. Once the assessment is complete I will request a feedback discussion with the child and parents where we discuss the nature of the difficulty and I suggest what intervention I feel will be most helpful. This may include individual play therapy with the child, or family or parent sessions.
Adolescents: Adolescence is a formative developmental stage which brings with it particular challenges, but also increased potential for working through early disruptions in relationships and emotional development.
What to expect - When working with adolescents, I usually like to meet with them on their own initially, and if they feel comfortable we may then meet together with their parents. This process helps to build trust in the therapeutic relationship, where confidentiality, respect and a non-judgemental stance is key. Depending on the needs of the adolescent, I may do feedback discussions with them and their parents from time to time during the therapy.
- parenting support
- emotional and behavioural difficulties in children and adolescents
- adjustment problems in children, adolescents and families
- trauma
- childhood / adolescent psychological disorders
Children: Play is an important form of communication used by children. Play therapy aims to provide a safe environment where children can learn to express their feelings, thoughts, needs and wants. It can also help children to make sense of muddled feelings and work through difficult life experiences which they or their families may not have the resources to cope with on their own.
What to expect - The initial 3-6 sessions comprise an emotional assessment. At the initial session I like to see the child and parents. I may then ask to see various family members either individually or together. Once the assessment is complete I will request a feedback discussion with the child and parents where we discuss the nature of the difficulty and I suggest what intervention I feel will be most helpful. This may include individual play therapy with the child, or family or parent sessions.
Adolescents: Adolescence is a formative developmental stage which brings with it particular challenges, but also increased potential for working through early disruptions in relationships and emotional development.
What to expect - When working with adolescents, I usually like to meet with them on their own initially, and if they feel comfortable we may then meet together with their parents. This process helps to build trust in the therapeutic relationship, where confidentiality, respect and a non-judgemental stance is key. Depending on the needs of the adolescent, I may do feedback discussions with them and their parents from time to time during the therapy.
