A Brief Parental Guide to Child Therapy
Like adults, children can also benefit from seeing a psychologist and getting therapy. There are significant life events such as the death of a friend, pet, family member, or divorce of parents can lead to stress that a child cannot cope with. Sometimes, leaving home, a big move, abuse, trauma, parent abandonment can lead to behavioral issues in children. Their appetite, sleep, mood, get affected along with their academic and social functioning.
Along with these events, children need help dealing with school stress, bullying, and peer pressure. On the other hand, some children find it hard to discuss their feelings regarding family issues. Getting therapy helps children with developing problem-solving skills and teaches them the value of seeking help.
Therapy allows both children and families to deal with the stress that various behavioral and emotional issues bring along. Sometimes, it is not clear as to what made the child worried, sulky, withdrawn, worried, or tearful.
However, if you feel that your child may have a behavioral or emotional issue or needs help with handling some situations, trust your instincts. There are plenty of quality child therapy centers in Dubai. You can consult anyone of them if you feel your little one needs help.
How does Child Therapy Work?
Generally, therapy is done through talking and solving problems. However, in the case of younger kids, therapists work with the whole family. They do so by a variety of activities together. With older kids and teens, therapists actively share different tasks and ideas that focus on the learning and development of skills they need.
Therapists provide the children with the emotional support that they need. They praise them and support them. The children’s faith gets restored. Also, with therapy, helpful thinking is built with healthy behavioral habits.
What Happens in Therapy?
Initially, the therapist is going to meet with you and your child. They are going to talk; ask questions and hear your child answer them. This way, they can learn more about your child and the problems they are facing. The therapist shall inform you how they can help. Then, more visits are going to follow:
Here is what happens in these visits:
Talking
There are many benefits to talking. It is one of the healthiest ways to express feelings. Just like adults, it is hard for children to talk as well. This is what they learn in therapy. They put their feelings into words instead of actions. Kids are eager to learn when someone listens and knows how they feel.
Do Activities
Children need to be kept engaged. Therapists use a variety of activities to teach kids how they can express their feelings and learn coping skills. Along with that, children also taught calm breathing and mindfulness to reduce stress.
Problem Solving Skills
Apart from learning new things. A child therapist also practices with the kid to practice what they have learned in the sessions so far. They play games with the children where kids learn patience, self-control, listen, share, deal with losing, trying over and over again, follow directions, and wait for their turn.
Also, with older kids and teens, therapists ask about the problems they are facing at home or school. They talk and discuss how to solve these problems.
How Long Do Kids Have to Stay in Therapy?
The duration of your child’s therapy depends on the goals the therapist may have for your kids. Usually, a therapist wants to meet with your child at least once a week every few months.
If you notice any behavioral issues in your child or see that they are stressed or withdrawn, get help from a professional child therapist at Camali Clinic so that both you and us can work together for the better mental health of your child.
