Child Therapy
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)
- 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 35 years of experience as a primary school teacher and a child therapist.