Child Counselling – H&S Education & Parenting
Child Counselling: A Complete Guide For Parents!
If you thought adults alone can be in the need of counselling, then you are wrong. Children too struggle and can get stressed, and may have difficulty coping with life. They, too, can suffer from mental health issues and may have experienced trauma. For these reasons, counselling is not something confined just to ‘adults’. Child counselling focuses on children, teens and adolescents who may be suffering from 1 or more mental health issues or illnesses such as anxiety, depression or grief, have experienced trauma and/ or may be experiencing a dysfunctional or stressful home environment. Reaching out to a therapist or a counsellor can be extremely daunting for any parent, especially as they feel responsible for how their child feels. There’s a lot of guilt and apprehension about counselling, societal pressures etc that make it confusing for parents to turn to professional help. As parents, what one needs to understand is that reaching out to a counsellor or therapist is the first step to helping your child. Getting support when needed, is the best thing a parent can do, not just for the child, but also for themselves and their family as a whole.
When To See A Counsellor Or Therapist For My Child?
As a parent, you know when something is not right with your child. So if there are concerns regarding your child’s behaviour or feelings, or your child suffers from mental, social, emotional or psychological distress and/or trauma, then it’s probably wise to see a counsellor.
Some signs to look out for as a parent:
- Urine incontinence
- Aggression without reason
- Inability to adjust to new situations
- Recurrent nightmares, night terrors, insomnia
- Sudden dropping grades
- Worry & anxiety that is constant
- Social withdrawal
- Eating disorders/loss of appetite/weight loss
- Suicidal thoughts or attempts
- Substance abuse or addiction
- Health related complaints such as headaches, stomachaches that have no cause or diagnosis
Before engaging with a counsellor as a parent you need to do your due diligence, check the credentials and experience of a counsellor before getting started, and the best way to do this might be through friends or family, your child’s school, your child’s paediatrician or your GP, local services who may all be able to suggest a good counsellor.
What Does A Child Counsellor Do?
A child counsellor is a trained and certified mental heath professional who can help identify issues that are affecting your child’s mental and physical health. A counsellor not only helps the child master ways to cope with the issues but also calms the parent’s concerns, helping both you and your child navigate negative, scary, uncomfortable or challenging times with less stress.
Some of the most common issues that child counsellors treat include:
Divorce, grief and the death of a loved one, witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event, mental health illnesses such as depression, sexual, emotional and/or physical abuse, bullying, relocation issues, parental related issues such as substance abuse, alcoholism.
What Are The Different Types Of Child Counselling?
Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT)-
The goal CBT is to help children understand how they think about things and to change their negative thoughts into positive by challenging their beliefs and behaviours that aren’t helpful, providing them with tools to cope with challenging and stressful situations.
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)-
The goal of TF-CBT is to help a child heal from any effects of trauma. Just like CBT, a child is taught how to view the trauma through a more realistic lens, and cope with any distressing memories or situations related to the trauma.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)-
The goal of this therapy is to help a child understand and address problems in their relationships.
Alternative Therapy-
Art, music, drama, sports therapy can help a child, who is distressed or who is experiencing mental health issues.
Do you have any parental challenges? Let us know If you have any concerns or questions about parenting, leave your comments below & our expert will get back to you!