| Therapy for Children and teens: I generally choose to meet clients weekly and begin treatment with younger children by talking with parents for a couple of sessions. During this period I will gather historical and developmental information which will help me to understand the presenting problem.
I prefer to meet with older teens alone, or with a parent for a short number of assessment sessions. Following this assessment I will consult with parents and teacher to gather as much information as possible about the problem, from an adult perspective.
Technique: With younger children I work through the child's natural language of play, uncovering problems and conflicts and helping the child to resolve them. These often include school related problems, friction with step-parents or siblings, difficulties with social skills or with forming relationships with peers.
With older children and teenagers I tend to use more structured games, artwork and conversation to explore issues as they arise. These may include questions of identity and independence, fear of the future or general feelings of pressure or inadequacy.
After an assessment period of several sessions, I will again meet with parents to discuss my clinical assessment and to develop a working plan for treatment.
In my work with children and teenagers, I strongly value cooperation and collaberation with parents and school staff and will arrange formal meetings or telephone contact at pre-determined intervals.
I can also help teach additional parenting skills - new ways of handling challenging behavior and, when the difficulties become too great to handle alone, I am happy to refer parents and teachers to other sources of help and support in the area.
Please also see my "Links" page... |
