Child Therapy
Your child will need guidance that at times may be more than you can provide on your own. If you feel you need help with you child or are concerned about how he or she is doing therapy can help.
Some reasons children come to counseling:
- Refusing to attend school or declining academic performance
- Excessive fearfulness or worrying
- Enduring sadness and crying or hopelessness
- Strong negative feelings about him- or herself
- Outbursts of uncontrollable anger or overreacting
- Persistent or extreme concerns about physical appearance
- Repetitive habits and rituals like hand-washing, counting or touching
- Worry about being harmed, hurting others or doing something “bad”
- Having racing thoughts that are too fast to follow
- Stealing
- Trouble socially: difficulty making or keeping friends
How contemporary psychoanalytic approaches work for child/play therapy
Contemporary psychoanalytic approaches can be effective in child/play therapy by utilizing the child’s natural mode of expression, play, to help them understand and work through unconscious emotional conflicts and psychological difficulties.
In child/play therapy, the therapist provides a supportive and non-judgmental environment for the child to play and explore their thoughts and feelings through the use of toys, games, art, and other forms of play. The therapist uses a variety of techniques such as free association, transference, and interpretation to help the child gain insight into their unconscious material and work through their emotional conflicts.
The goal of child/play therapy is to help the child develop a better understanding of their thoughts, feelings, and behaviors, and to resolve the underlying emotional conflicts that may be causing psychological distress. By providing a safe and supportive environment for the child to play and express themselves, the therapist can help the child develop improved emotional regulation and coping strategies, and increase their overall psychological well-being.
Contemporary psychoanalytic approaches to child/play therapy are particularly useful in helping children who may not yet have the verbal skills or ability to express their thoughts and feelings directly. By allowing them to play and explore their emotions in a safe and non-threatening environment, children can gain insight into their unconscious material and develop more adaptive coping strategies.
It’s important to note that contemporary psychoanalytic child/play therapy is not a one-size-fits-all approach, and the therapist will work with the child to tailor the therapy to meet their specific needs and goals. The therapy process may take several months or even years, but it can be a very effective way to improve the child’s overall emotional well-being.
We can help
At Bay Psychology Group, Inc. we have several specialists in child/play therapy. If you have questions or would like to work with them, more info can be found here: Kristy Shanks, LCSW