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Therapy with Children
Therapy with children is very different from that with adults as children often express their feelings and concerns in more symbolic than verbal forms. Because of this, use of art or play is often an effective means to begin to understand the child and help them re-work their ideas and feelings into ways that are more adaptive for them. The therapist's role is often as a guide to help the child to strive to move to more mature developmental levels. Family dynamics are often played out in the child's mind and behavior where it then becomes essential to also have family meetings.
It is also essential for the therapist to be well-grounded not only in behavioral and child psychological development, but also in the neurologic and medical aspects of the psychiatric problems commonly seen in children. In addition to the personality and developmental-phase behavioral problems that are often expressed in the child's relationships with others, these problems include Learning Disorders, Communication Disorders, Pervasive Developmental Disorders (Autism, Asberger's Disorder, and other related Autistic disorders), Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADD), Conduct Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, Tourette's and Tic Disorders, Separation Anxiety Disorders, etc. Depression and anxiety disorders that are most commonly seen in adults may also be seen in children with slightly different presentations than that seen in adults; and it often takes a well-experienced therapist to make these distinctions. |
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