THERAPIES USED WITH CHILDREN AND ADOLSECENTS

EYE MOVEMENT DESENSITISATION AND REPROCESSING (EMDR)

Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR) is an effective evidence-based method of assisting children and teens manage trauma. We know that adverse life experiences often have negative impacts on a child’s or teen’s development. Such adverse events may be bullying, rejection, family violence or separation, medical trauma, illness or grief and loss.  When children and teens are stuck in trauma or in a ‘fear response’, this can affect their emotional and physical development, and their enjoyment of life.  They may struggle with anxiety or depression or experience difficulties in concentration and learning. Others may dissociate or become ‘dreamy’ or engage in oppositional behaviours. Even though there is no longer trauma, the child or teen may be locked in a pattern of responding to anything that looks, sounds, smells, or feels like the original experience as if it is the actual experience.

EMDR is an evidenced based therapy recommended by the World Health Organisation (2013). It is a specialist therapy that helps all age groups recover from adverse life experiences and trauma (big trauma’s or little trauma’s).  The name refers to the use of eye movements or other forms of bilateral stimulation (right and left pattern) such as ‘tapping’, to harness the brains natural healing power to access and process disturbing memories.

EMDR follows a careful, structured process that begins with a range of developmentally appropriate ways to assist the child or teen to feel calm and safe. Marika usually Integrates ‘Play Therapy’ and other forms of expressive therapies with EMDR.

COGNITIVE BEHAVIOURAL THERAPY (CBT)

CBT is a form of talk therapy that can be used with kids, teens and adults. It’s aims:

• Get people to look at their thoughts, feelings and behaviours.

• Show them how to replace negative thoughts with more realistic, positive ones.

• Help them change behaviours that are getting in the way of healthy functioning.

With CBT, the therapist and child work together to set goals, identify problems and check progress. Kids may get assignments to do between sessions to build the skills they’re learning (psychological or behavioural strategies). Unlike some other forms of therapy, CBT doesn’t dwell on the past. Instead, it focuses on the present and the future. It helps kids realise they have control over their behaviours.

How does CBT work in practice?

Marika first meets with the parents and their child to find out what they hope to achieve. That could be anything from stopping being bullied at school to feeling more confident.

There are a number of techniques therapists use in CBT. One is called modelling. In this approach, the therapist demonstrates the desired behaviour, like standing up to a bully. Another technique is called cognitive restructuring. This is an approach where kids learn to recognise and replace negative thoughts. For instance, they might turn “I can’t do maths” into “some parts of math are hard for me. But there are many others I can do.”

There are certain steps involved in CBT. They include:

• Identifying things in your life that are upsetting to you.

• Becoming aware of your thoughts and feelings about them.

• Recognising thinking that’s negative or not accurate.

• Reshaping that thinking into a more positive view.

CBT is used to treat children with a range of mental health conditions.

CHILD-CENTRED PLAY THERAPY (AGES 2-10)

Child-Centred Play Therapy (CCPT) is an evidenced-based model where trained therapists use play to assist children aged two to ten resolve emotional, psychological and behavioural difficulties. CCPT is often used for younger children where more focused psychological strategies (i.e. Cognitive Behavioural therapy) is unsuitable. CCPT honour’s the child’s developmental level and holds that children express their internal world through spontaneous play. The medium of play offers children a natural and non-threatening opportunity to express their inner thoughts and feelings and process how they make sense of their world.   

“Feelings and attitudes that may be too threatening for the child to express verbally can be safely projected through self-chosen toys……the toys are the child’s words and the play is their language”.

Toys are carefully selected to provide a vehicle for expression of a range of emotions and behaviours. Through the gentle process of CCPT the child builds self-awareness and knowledge and gains insight into how they want to be with themselves, others and in the world generally.

CCPT is a therapeutic modality that is helpful for a range of developmental, psychological, behavioural and emotional difficulties.  Children struggling with:

•  Anxiety and depression

• Adjustment to change (parental separation, new sibling)       

• Trauma 

• Attachment issues (parent/child bond)

• Behavioural issues

• Grief and loss

• ADHD/attention, concentration difficulties

• Social and interpersonal skills

Collaboration with parents is an important part of the CCPT process, both for sharing information about the child’s progress and for trying new strategies at home to enhance the child’s progress and strengthen the parent/child relationship.

WANT TO KNOW MORE?

Please contact Marika for a confidential conversation about the appropriateness of any of the above therapy types for your child / adolescent and an explanation of the process involved. Get in touch with Marika by calling 0431 169 628 or click below to send a direct enquiry to Marika.