The initial meetings focus on understanding both your and your child’s perspective about what is difficult, as well as your experience of one another. For primary school aged they may express themselves through a combination of play and talking, supplemented at times by questionnaires to help identify their underlying concerns. Sessions may take place with you, with your child and also together. This is in order to begin to think together about the type of therapy that is most helpful, who will be involved and in what way.
The different types of therapy may be individual play therapy for your child, joint play sessions and parent focused sessions. Individual therapy is when it seems beneficial for your child to have a space separate from other relationships in their daily life to begin to think about, make sense of and resolve the difficulties they are experiencing. Individual session enables them to express what they may feel and think in an unhindered way.
Joint sessions with you and your child focus around the communications of your child, which will, largely take place through the medium of play, noticing their ways of interacting, which also prompts conversation. By paying attention, we can begin to see how they view the world and their relationships. Your presence is crucial in helping them to begin to develop healthy ways to manage what they feel, as by being actively interested in the mind of your child, this lets them know that whatever they feel and think is bearable.
Along with the joint sessions, separate adult sessions allow you to talk about the challenges you face as a parent and understand the strong feelings that your child inevitably stirs up in you. In combination, this helps to build a stronger relationship between you, for you to feel more confident as a parent, for your child to feel happier within themselves and for their difficulties to ease.
Uxbridge Psychology is dedicated to supporting you and your children. By working with a professional and highly experienced Psychologist & Psychotherapist, you can get help for yourself, your children and your relationships. If you have any questions about these services, please contact me on 07306 165938 or email me for a free 15 minute consultation.