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Counselling
Evidence based treatments for children
Children and adolescents can present with a range of academic, emotional, social, and behavioural concerns. I place high value in providing an opportunity for the child or adolescent to tell their story in an environment where they feel safe and can talk freely. As a practitioner working with this younger age demographic I have an integrative approach to counselling, making use of a range of evidence-based approaches and techniques dependent on the specific diagnosis or presentation.
Therapies may include the following:
Client Centered Child Focused therapies
Counselling skills of active listening helps to build a relationship with the child and hear their story. When children can tell their story in a safe, non judging environment, awareness and insight to their concern or problem can be raised, enabling them to get in touch with strong emotions and begin the process of change or discovery.
Play Therapy
For very young children, time-limited client centered play therapy may be a more suitable option for therapy. This form of therapy is particularly beneficial when children have experienced a traumatic event, or when it is deemed more appropriate for the child to use toys as their words and play as their language, with a view to processing and working through areas of concerns.
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a form of psychological treatment that has been demonstrated to be effective for a range of problems including depression and anxiety disorders.
The Macquarie University Cool Kids Anxiety Program is offered to help which kids manage their worries, and learn problem solving and assertiveness skills.
Behaviour Interventions
These may include the teaching of social skills and problem solving skills, strategies and tools, and recommended adjustments for parents and teachers, to help support the child or adolescent.
Parenting/Family-Based Interventions
May include parent and teacher training and other behavioural based approaches. Particularly supportive for ADHD diagnosis and Oppositional behaviours.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Adjusted for the use of children, Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) is a modified form of cognitive therapy that incorporates mindfulness practices of present moment awareness, meditation, and breathing exercises. This therapy is particularly helpful for anxiety and depression.
Sand Tray Therapy
Sand tray therapy is a form of therapy that helps children and adolescents to promote self-expression, feelings, and emotions, and work through difficult or traumatic experiences.
Solution Focused Therapy
Solution focused therapy is future-focused, goal-directed, and focuses on solutions, rather than on the problems that bring individuals to counselling. It is a short-term goal-focused evidence-based therapeutic approach, which incorporates positive psychology principles and practices. This form of therapy helps clients change by constructing solutions rather than focusing on problems.
What about Emotion Regulation?
Self-regulation consists of being able to regulate our emotions, process sensory information automatically and with ease, and involves the executive function. When children present with emotion regulation difficulties, careful consideration is given to the best therapeutic approach, often including parents in the process.