What is counselling for children?

Most of us are familiar with the idea of counselling - talking to a professional with the aim of enhancing your wellbeing - but how does it apply to children, particularly those who might be too young to be able to easily put their feelings into words?

At HT Therapy we work with a few of the Local School within the surrounding area of Barking & Dagenham e.g. Redbridge and Havering with children from the age 4 to 16 we are happy to work within the school environment if the child school gives consent or their place of home providing there will be a consenting adult around.  

Please find listed below a brief insight into our approach to counselling for children: 

 

Using play

Counselling for children involves encouraging them to express themselves, just as with adult "talking therapies". This is often through play, as it helps the child feel at home with sharing their feelings.

Using art and play allows children to explore their thoughts and feelings in a way that is most comfortable for them.

 

Materials

We offer a range of materials including water, paints/colouring pencils and toys figures.   Our counsellors invite children to engage with these without asking them to provide any explanations unless they choose to do so.

Over time in a comfortable and safe space, the child is able to open up, for instance through their art or play, and as a result they are better understand and are able to cope with their feeling.  This has a huge impact on both their school and home life. 

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Building a relationship

The relationship that a child develops with their counsellor is very different to those they share with other adults in their life.  The counsellor is a neutral party and not a part of their family life, allowing them the space to open up and be heard in a safe environment.

 

Working alongside parents

At HT Therapy we always obtain parental agreement before we support a child through one-to-one counselling. This way, we're able to make sure the parent or carer is involved from the very start.  We take children's safety extremely seriously, and will therefore always share any concerns with the school and parents if we're worried that a child is in danger.

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What is counselling for children?

Counselling for children involves encouraging them to express themselves, just as with adult "talking therapies". Using art and play allows children to explore their thoughts and feelings in a way that is most comfortable for them.

 

Child counselling is a type of therapy that focuses on young children, teens, and adolescents with one or more mental illnesses. It also provides aid to those who have experienced trauma, and/or who are experiencing a dysfunctional or stressful home environment.

 

What is a child Counsellor?

Child counsellors typically work with children to help them become mentally and emotionally stable and happy. Some child counsellors specialize in certain areas, like childhood depression, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, or abuse. Others, however, treat a wide range of mental and emotional problems in children.

 

How do you know when your child needs counselling?

Warning signs that your child may need counselling include: Persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, constant display of anger and has a tendency to overreact to situations, also suffer with persistent worry, anxiety, or fearfulness.

 

Please contact Helena at HT Therapy 07947 466 256 to discuss any concerns you might have.  At HT Therapy our aim is to listen not to judge.