Psychotherapy for Children

When children are having trouble psychologically, they can behave in the following ways:

• Fighting, anger and temper tantrums.
• “Regression” or reverting to a behavior such as bed-wetting or fear of the dark that they had already mastered.
• Crying, withdrawal, sadness.
• Difficulties paying attention.
• Obsessional behaviors – checking things, repetitive movements.
• Social problems, lack of friends, overwhelming shyness.

Expatriation can be difficult for children in ways that they can’t easily express in Psychotherapists use play therapy in working with children; using games and toys to gain insight into a child’s inner world. Through play therapy, a trained psychotherapist can interpret a child’s struggles and help him or her to work through situations that are painful and overwhelming.

It’s also important that parents participate in and understand their child’s psychotherapy process. I prefer to meet with parents either before meeting the child, or soon afterward, to hear their experience and history, and help them to better accompany their child's progression in treatment. This often brings families closer together, offering them a better appreciation of their shared story and its impact on each member.