Child and Adolescents Psychotherapy
Child and adolescents psychotherapy is designed to help young people navigate emotional, behavioural and developmental challenges using a variety of techniques for which the therapist has undertaken specialised training.
Therapy provides a safe space to express and understand feelings, develop positive ways of managing difficulties,as well as learn coping strategies and tools for effective communication and a healthy self-esteem. Psychotherapy promotes resilience, self-expression and emotional regulation.
At Malahide Counselling and Psychotherapy we use a range of evidence based interventions drawing on the principles of trauma research, neurodevelopment and relational neurobiology.
The therapy involves creative methods such as: play, mindfulness, art, movement, and talking.
Child and Adolescent therapists work with children age 6-12 and adolescents (age 12-18) dealing with variety of issues such as:
- Anxiety
- Sleep difficulties
- Depression
- Panic attacks
- Self-harm
- Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD)
- Trauma
- Life transitions (i.e. moving schools, parental separation)
- Sexuality and gender dysphoria
- Emotional self-regulation
- Bullying
- Friendship difficulties
- Social skills
- Grief and loss
- Eating problems
- Adoption and life story work
- ADHD and Autism spectrum disorder
Please note that psychotherapy does not offer psychological assessments and is not a
diagnostic service.
What to expect?
- Initial parents consultation
This is an initial session for parents only to discuss the concerns about their child.
During this session the therapist will gather the child’s developmental history,
their specific needs and family dynamics. The therapist will then formulate and
agree on a treatment plan and provide some parenting strategies or will signpost to
other services.
- Individual sessions for a child/adolescent
Usually a block of 6 sessions is offered initially for a child/adolescent. The
sessions are 50 minutes long and they include building rapport with your child
through talking, playing or engaging in structured and unstructured activities to
work towards agreed goals.
- Confidentiality
For therapy to be effective, confidentiality must be honoured. Information your
child shares with the therapist in his or hers private sessions will be held
confidential. However, the goals and the progress of the therapy will be shared
with parents. By law, confidentiality must be breached if your child reports a plan
to harm themselves or someone else, if your child is involved in activities that
could cause harm to themselves or others, if your child reports that they are being
abused physically, emotionally or sexually or they have been abused in the past.
The disclosures of child abuse must be reported to Tusla Social Work Department.
- Review sessions with parents
After your child completes a block of sessions, the therapist will schedule a
review for parents to discuss progress. This will be with the agreement of the
child/adolescent. Occasionally the parents are invited to the sessions with the
children upon the child’s wish/consent.
- Length of the sessions
The treatment time depends on each individual client and their specific needs.
Some children use therapy as an ongoing regular support during the school term to
help them manage stress. Others, attend on a short term basis with a specific issue
to work through.
- Dropping off and collecting
Initially you will be able to attend with your child until they feel comfortable to be left
alone. There is no waiting room on the premises, so the therapist will meet you at the
front door at your allocated time and will bring your child to the door after the session
is completed.