How Can Psychotherapy Help Children and Adolescents?

Psychotherapy helps children and adolescents in a variety of ways.  It is important to realize that children and adolescents do therapy differently than adults.  In therapy, children and adolescents receive emotional support, resolve conflicts, understand their feelings and problems, and try out new solutions to old problems.  Goals for therapy may be specific (change in behavior, improved relationships with friends and family, better grades) or more general (less anxiety, better self-esteem).  The goals depend on the presenting issue. 
 

Children in Therapy

Children tend to act out their problems rather than talk about them, and for this reason, Play Therapy is often utilized with children.  This may include Sand Tray, games, art and more.  In Play Therapy, the child leads and the therapist follows – within reason.  Play therapy is more than just playing, and often parents will ask why they are paying for someone to “just play games” with the child. However, in the therapy room, they are not “just playing games.”  The therapist watches the child’s play and asks questions and makes interpretations based on that play that draw the child out and into talking about whatever the presenting issue is.  For a more in depth explanation about play therapy, please click here.
 

Adolescents in Therapy

Adolescents come to therapy for a variety of reasons – behavior problems, poor grades, drug or alcohol abuse, low self-esteem, anxiety, depression are some of them.  A therapist who works with adolescents is aware of the unique context of an adolescent’s life.  Adolescents see the world differently than adults see it, largely because their brain is still developing, and the parts of the brain that control impulses and acting-out behavior is not fully developed, so adolescents have less self-control than adults might like.  In therapy, adolescents often find a sympathetic adult who listens, gives input and feedback without judging and who can help the adolescent improve their relationship with their parents, family and peers. 

How do I Find a Therapist for My Child?

When looking for a therapist for a child, it is important to find a therapist who has training in child and/or adolescent therapy.  Marriage and Family Therapists have specific course work and clinical training (practical, hands-on experience) in child therapy as well as in family therapy.

Parents might want to consider the following questions to ask when speaking with a therapist:

• What results can I expect?
• How long will my child be in therapy?
• How frequently will the therapist meet with my child?
• How involved will I and my spouse be in the therapy?
• How much will it cost?
• How will I and my spouse be informed about the progress being made in therapy?
• How soon can we expect to see some changes in our child?

Realize that answers to these questions are not easy ones, and that they depend largely on the the situation, your child, and on you.