Children
How do you know if your child needs therapy? There are many reasons that a child may come to therapy – abuse or trauma, divorce or separation of their parents, difficulties getting along with their peers, school difficulties, adjustment to new siblings, adoption, experiences of illness in the family, their own illness. It is important to know the signs of distress in children, because they will most often let you know something needs attention through their behavior. Changes in behavior to notice include:
- Eating and sleeping habits
- Difficulties in separating from parent(s) – when it has previously been easy
- Not wanting to go to school
- Bedwetting
- Irritability
- Sudden outbursts of anger
- Unexplained crying
- Isolating themselves from the family
- Avoiding socializing with friends
- Clinginess or overdependence on adults
- Sudden increase in risky or dangerous behavior
- Fighting with peers or siblings
Play is the natural language of children.
While adults may be adept at talking about and talking through their problems,
children's difficulties are often best understood through the metaphor of
play. The solutions to conflict are also most often found through play, in the
presence of a trained professional. I offer children the opportunity of play
through Sandplay, games, art materials such as clay, pens, chalk and paint, and
dramatic play with puppets and dolls. I bring to my work with children over 25
years of experience as a primary school teacher and a child therapist.
Parents:
I work collaboratively with parents whose children are being seen by me in therapy, and also am available to work with parents who want support or help with parenting without therapy for their child. In addition to many years of experience working with parents as a preschool and primary school teacher, I have also co-facilitated parenting groups and can encourage parents in an empowered style of parenting.
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