Therapeutic Work with Children

Children express themselves in fundamentally creative ways, and understanding their communications requires special sensitivity.  Children’s ideas of why they are coming into treatment are often different than the ideas adults in their lives (usually parents or teachers) have about why they should come, and this can be confusing!  I invite children into an accepting environment free of criticism or judgment, where they can express themselves without censorship and where their natural creativity can be nurtured progressively and therapeutically.

Being a child in today’s world can be frightening and overwhelming–Children are sensitive to things that worry adults in their lives whether these things are soundbites on the news or family finances or watching parents navigate divorce, and they struggle to interpret what these things mean to the adults they rely on for safety, trust, stability and love.  It’s no wonder that children exhibit symptoms I see in my practice:

•  anxiety
• academic underachievement
• low self-esteem
• difficulty dealing with bullies
• social and emotional withdrawal
• illnesses resulting in frequent absence from school
• depression
• gender conflict & sexual confusion
• anger

 

It takes a special skill set to meet a child in their experience.  Therapeutic work with children requires versatility and willingness to be silly and playful as well as structured and serious!