Child therapy: what is it and what are its benefits?

We explain all the details of psychotherapy for children.

Child therapy or child psychotherapy is a type of therapeutic intervention whose main purpose is to enhance the emotional and social well-being of the child, and differs from adult therapy not so much in the objective of the interventions but in the way in which they are carried out.It differs from adult therapy not so much in the objective of the interventions but in the way the relationship and the therapeutic process are carried out.

The psychological problems also have to be taken into account at early ages, since an effective treatment at these ages will positively condition the future of a child and its well-being and can prevent future problems in adults.

• Article related: "The 10 benefits of going to psychological therapy".

What is the infantile therapy?

This form of therapy is based on a set of techniques and methods used to help children who have problems with their emotions or behaviors, and one of the many elements that differentiate it from therapy for adults is that it uses play as a key element in therapy.. In addition, it involves the family (and sometimes the school and/or other institutions and professionals) in the therapeutic process, so the therapeutic relationship and alliance is multiple.

Child therapy is very experiential and experiential. Child therapists use activities and games to relate and communicate with the children.. However, language and verbal communication in this type of therapy is also important, as in adult therapy, but it is necessary to adapt it to the evolutionary stage in which each child is situated, both at the level of understanding and expression of language and the characteristics of their cognition and thinking.

Part of the raison d'être of child psychotherapy is that the particularities of the minds of boys and girls present significant qualitative and qualitative differences. qualitatively significant differences with respect to the mind of adults (and not only quantitatively different). Child psychology is not a poorer, more nuanced version of the psychology of those who are older; in fact, young children think in a way that compensates for their lack of knowledge about how the world works and, for example, lend themselves more to spontaneous creativity, since their way of thinking has not been "set on track" by the fact that they have spent many years doing the same kind of jobs and routines.

Therefore, a child therapist must have a deep knowledge of the evolutionary development, the characteristics of each area (social, cognitive, emotional, etc.) at each moment of the child's life, and adapt to the child's way of thinking, feeling and behaving, as well as to his or her needs.

These professionals are experts in helping children develop and build healthy self-esteem, improve communication and social skills, stimulate development and improve their emotional and relational intelligence. In short, child therapists need adequate and specialized training and experience to interact with children through adapted techniques, as well as to train parents in psychological techniques that help influence their children's behavior and emotions.

Characteristics of play-based therapy

Psychological and emotional problems affecting children, just as in adults, can have an impact on their lives in different ways, for example on their school performance, or can cause them behavioral problems.

The benefits of child psychological intervention are manifold.Many of them are achieved with techniques such as play-based therapy, in which the therapist creates a protected and structured environment (the therapist acts as a guide) with games and toys, in order to observe the child's behavior and inquire into his or her internal events such as thoughts, sensations and emotions.

Thanks to play-based therapy, the child finds a way of expression that facilitates the communication of problems, concerns, emotions and thoughts without having to directly verbalize the problem as an adult would (sometimes the child is not even aware of the "problem") and without feeling threatened or interrogated.

Child therapists use this therapeutic method in different situations, among which stand out:

• Separations, divorces and family difficulties
• Mourning process
• Childhood trauma
• Bullying and school harassment
• Situations of physical and emotional neglect
• Cultural changes
• Conduct and learning disorders
• Emotional and behavioral difficulties

The benefits of child therapy

Thanks to child therapy, children develop social and relational skills, improve self-esteem, learn to cope with problems, release tension and, in addition, have the opportunity to practice tools to improve their emotional well-being and daily life, have the opportunity to practice tools to improve their emotional well-being and daily life..

Therapeutic play is an ideal way for children to express and control their emotions, and encourages the expression of their concerns, as it gives them the confidence to express their personality and show themselves as they are. In this space the child finds a connection with his own feelings and improves his emotional self-awareness. The game offers the advantage of representing real life situations while maintaining the emotional distance that children do not have in their daily lives, allowing them to explore and work on possible solutions without feeling the pressure of the consequences of everyday life.

In addition, parents, who are essential figures in the child therapeutic process, also learn to analyze situations where children present difficulties and learn how to intervene in them in a loving, warm and age-appropriate way, helping them to lead a more adaptive, healthy and happy life.

When to take my child to a psychologist

Being a parent is undoubtedly one of the best experiences in life; however, it can also be a very stressful and difficult situation when a child presents emotional or psychological difficulties, as parents always want the best for their children and for their healthy development. But, how do you know when it is necessary to take your child to a psychologist?

There are a number of signs that may indicate that it is time to take a child to child therapy. They are the following:

• Behavioral problems: excessive anger and rage, uncontrolled and intense or frequent tantrums, extreme disobedience, aggressiveness, etc.
• Problems falling asleep, nightmares.
• Attention, reading or language problems (e.g., speech delays).
• Hyperactivity and impulsivity
• Poor school performance
• Sadness, disinterest, droopy mood, excessive sleepiness
• Appetite changes
• Shyness, withdrawal and social relationship problems
• Lack of appropriate emotional responses
• Problems with bowel and bladder control
• Intense and irrational fear
• Repetitive and obsessive behaviors

Where to go to overcome these problems? Instituto Mensalus: specialists in child therapy

Child therapy can address these problems with treatment aimed at resolving behavioral disorders in children.

If you are a parent and you are concerned about your child's well being, you can contact a child psychologist from anywhere in the world. Most psychology clinics in Spain have a multidisciplinary team composed of psychologists, educational psychologists, speech therapists, etc., highly specialized in the treatment of different problems affecting children and young people: separations, ADHD, emotional and affective difficulties, adaptive problems, learning disorders and difficulties, behavioral disorders, sleep disorders, grief processes, addiction to new technologies, among others.

These difficult situations can overcome any parent, but this center can offer solutions to improve both your happiness and that of your child.

• If you need a reliable clinic and want more information about clinics or centers to go to, check out our directory of psychologists.