The 5 main functions of a child psychologist

A summary of the most important functions of child psychologists.

Generally speaking, most people are not very clear about what exactly psychologists who specialize in treating patients in their practice do. It is therefore not surprising that, in general, there is even less knowledge about what a more specific area of applied psychology consists of: the work of child psychologists.

This is normal, no one is born knowing, and there is no reason why everyone should know, just because they exist, what child psychology professionals do. However, taking into account that the mental health and emotional well-being of children are very important aspects for their proper development, it is important to know at least the basics about this branch of psychology.

For that reason, in this article we will see what are the functions of the child psychologistIn this article we will see what are the functions of the child psychologist, in what way he can help the children and the families, and the way in which it is worked in this professional area.

What is child psychology?

The first thing to keep in mind to understand what child psychology is is that it is not a hermetically sealed scientific field or clearly differentiated from the rest of the branches of psychology, with which it would hardly touch. Rather, it is a field of work that overlaps with many other areas of psychology and focuses on the needs and characteristics of children.

This means, among other things, that in child psychology there is a facet oriented towards the investigation of children's behavior and processes. a facet oriented towards research into the behavior and psychological processes of children, and another oriented towards applied psychology in helping children and families. in helping children and families with children, as well as entities that work with them (typically, schools).

In both areas of work, these professionals collaborate with other types of psychologists to build theoretical and practical knowledge; after all, one does not learn about children without learning about human beings in general, and vice versa. In practice, however, when we talk about child psychologists, we refer to those who work in this second field, the applied field.

But there is not only an overlap in terms of the type of work to be done. There is also a thematic overlap, in terms of the contents to be worked with. Thus, among the main functions of a child psychologist are to know areas of knowledge such as the maturation process of the nervous system during childhood, the different forms of learning, family dynamics and styles of parenting and education, the expression of psychological, neurological and psychiatric disorders in children, and more. All these contents, in turn, are addressed by other fields of psychology: developmental psychology, neurological psychology and psychiatry.developmental psychology, clinical and health psychology, educational psychology, etc.

In conclusion, child psychologists are dedicated to working in a field of reality centered on the experiences that children go through, and which intersect with the fields of study and intervention of other specializations of psychology.

The functions of the child psychologist

These are the main tasks that child psychologists deal with on a daily basis, although there are different sub-sections of specialization.

1. Child and adolescent therapy

Child and adolescent therapy is one of the most important fields of work in child psychology, since it is where children in situations of special vulnerability are helped..

2. Educational counseling

Also child psychologists often collaborate with educational centers. to help them develop effective ways to educate, adapt to the needs of students with a diagnosis related to their cognitive abilities or behavioral patterns, and solve specific problems.

3. Family therapy

In some cases, the problem to be solved lies in the way in which problematic behaviors have become chronic in the way family members relate to each other.. Therefore, among the functions of child psychologists is to participate in helping these families with problems and with one or more children of a few years of age.

4. Child neuropsychology

It is possible that due to acquired damage or diseases of genetic cause, alterations in the functioning of the Nervous System may arise. alterations in the functioning of the Central Nervous System of children.. Child psychologists and neuropsychologists intervene to meet their needs and promote their rehabilitation.

5. Research

As we have seen, experts in child psychology can also dedicate themselves to research, publishing in scientific journals.

Are you looking for professional support from child psychologists?

If you are interested in having the help of child psychologists in areas such as education, treatment of emotional or behavioral disorders or family counseling, we invite you to contact us, the psychology center Cribecca.

In our facilities located in the city of Seville you will be attended by a team of professionals with solid experience in child and adult therapy, working from the principles of cognitive-behavioral therapy, one of the most effective and scientifically proven. Si te interesa ver nuestros datos de contacto, haz clic aquí.

Referencias bibliográficas:

• Blasi, C.H.; Bjorklund, David F. (2003). Evolutionary Developmental Psychology: A New Tool for Better Understanding Human Ontogeny. Human Development. 46(5): 259 - 281.
• Hogan, J.D. (2000). Developmental psychology: History of the field. En Alan E. Kazdin (ed.). Encyclopedia of Psychology. Volumen 3. pp. 9 -13.
• Mattison, R.E., Mayes SD (2012). Relationships between learning disability, executive function, and psychopathology in children with ADHD. J Atten Disord. 16(2): pp. 138 - 146.
• Snowman, J. (1997). Educational Psychology: What Do We Teach, What Should We Teach? Educational Psychology, 9, pp. 151 - 169.