We know that children (like adults) can be impacted emotionally from different experiences and may need space to share, reflect and process these in order to promote and/or restore their physical and emotional wellbeing. Psychotherapy for children is scientifically based on techniques that are designed to benefit them because they recognise that children express emotions differently to adults as they are still in the process of progressing through their developmental stages. Children are therefore more likely to act out emotionally or exhibit mood, sleep, and social disturbances because they are not ‘matured’ enough to articulate their emotions effectively. Therapists who work with children are able to use a range of skills to attune to the child and find ways of helping them to express feelings. This may include use of different tools and techniques that will help facilitate and more effectively enable the child to share what is going on in their world.

Children’s therapy relies on the creation of a therapeutic relationship where the child’s emotional and social well-being is at the centre. In many ways it is ‘forward-oriented’ as children are always in the process of becoming who they will be. Therapists working with children use different activities, unstructured play, games, art etc as a way of tapping into their world to help them to make sense of their feelings and emotions. Counselling therefore offers children a safe, child focused, free from criticism space where trust can evolve with the therapist to promote exploration of self as well as what is going on in the child/young person’s environment. The various therapeutic approaches and techniques are designed to address the unique needs and experiences of the child and include play therapy, trauma informed therapies, grief counselling, art therapy etc. 

Play therapy allows children to express and process their emotions without the restriction of always having to use words. Play can be used as a form of communication and for children tends to feel more natural and comfortable and so can help guide conversation and/or help illustrate conversations in ways that are easier for children to understand.

Trauma-focused/informed therapies help children process and heal from a traumatic experience e.g. sudden losses such as a death of a sibling/caregiver, experiencing abuse and neglect, witnessing violence etc. Given the different ways that trauma can manifest itself; an assessment is first made to inform the therapeutic approach a child may need as this could potentially be long term work.

Grief counselling can help children find healthy ways to express their emotions and to heal from experiences of loss. As children understand and process death and other losses differently to adults, counselling can help children be better informed and understand the grieving process. It also gives children the freedom to express their sadness and other emotions without fear of upsetting others around them, i.e. parents/caregivers.

Essentially the type of therapy used in any case depends on the unique needs and experiences of the child.

It is no surprise that teens present very unique needs when it comes to therapy. This is primarily because it is a time characterised by growth and biological/physiological changes which are often out of their control and therefore can be experienced as overwhelming.  The potential intensity of the therapeutic space may therefore, seem unappealing to a young person at first given the conflicts they are navigating in the transition to adulthood. The therapist’s room however is a confidential place in which a non-judgemental adult helps the young person to explore the issues that are presenting themselves. The therapist will use different tools/techniques to attune to the young person’s world, empowering them to express feelings but also to share their experiences from their unique perspective. 

Adolescence is a difficult journey in itself but can also have added complexity if there are wounds from earlier in childhood. These may be exacerbated if there are social difficulties, unease in expressing emotion, impulsiveness, difficulty in dealing with anger and frustration. Part of the therapeutic process might therefore include helping the young person learn and use more appropriate responses to stressors, promote ways to regulate strong emotions but also empowering them to recognise when to seek support from a trusted other when away from the therapy room.

Therapists working with children and young people are at all times mindful of safeguarding issues in the counselling space and where necessary will take action to ensure that their safety remains the paramount consideration.