Child therapy or child psychotherapy is a type of therapeutic intervention whose main aim is to promote 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 the relationship and the therapeutic process are carried out.

Psychological problems must also be considered at an early age, as effective treatment at this age will positively affect a child’s future and well-being and may prevent future problems in adults.

What is child 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 behaviour, and one of the many elements that differentiate it from therapy for adults is that uses play as a key element in therapy . Furthermore, 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 interact and communicate with 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 developmental 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. Therefore, a child therapist must have deep knowledge about the developmental characteristics of each area (social, cognitive, emotional, etc.) in every moment of the child’s life.

These professionals are experts in helping children develop and build healthy self-esteem, improve communication and social skills, stimulate development, and enhance 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 the behavior and emotions of their children.

Characteristics of play-based therapy

Psychological and emotional problems that affect children, just like adults, can impact on their lives in different ways, for example on their school performance, or can cause them to have behavioural problems.

The benefits of child psychological intervention are multiple , and 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, to be able to observe the child’s behaviour and investigate its internal events such as thoughts, sensations and emotions.

Thanks to play-based therapy, the child finds a way to express himself or herself that facilitates the communication of his or her problems, concerns, emotions and thoughts without having to verbalize the problem directly as an adult would (sometimes the child is not even aware of the “problem”) and without feeling threatened or questioned.

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

  • Separations, divorces and family difficulties
  • Mourning process
  • Childhood trauma
  • Bullying and harassment
  • Physical and emotional neglect situations
  • Cultural changes
  • Conduct disorders and learning disabilities
  • Emotional and behavioral difficulties

The benefits of child therapy

Thanks to child therapy, the youngest children develop social and relational skills, improve their 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 their 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 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 but maintaining the emotional distance that the child does not have in his daily life, allowing him to explore and work on possible solutions without feeling the pressure of the consequences of daily life.

In addition, parents, who are essential figures in the therapeutic process for children, also learn to analyse 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 the 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 has emotional or psychological difficulties, as parents always want the best for their children and for their healthy development. But, how do we know when it is necessary to take a child to the psychologist?

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

  • Behavioral problems: excessive anger and rage, uncontrolled and intense or frequent temper tantrums, extreme disobedience, aggressiveness, etc.
  • Sleep problems, nightmares
  • Attention, reading, or language problems (e.g., speech delays)
  • Hyperactivity and impulsivity
  • Low school performance
  • Sadness, disinterest, low mood, excessive sleepiness
  • Changes in appetite
  • Shyness, withdrawal and relationship problems
  • Lack of appropriate emotional responses
  • Problems with sphincter control
  • Intense and irrational fear
  • Repetitive and obsessive behaviors

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

Child therapy can address these problems with a treatment aimed at solving behavioral disorders of the youngest.

One of the best psychology clinics in Spain, which are experts in child and youth therapy, is the Mensalus Institute . It is located in Barcelona but also offers online therapy. Therefore, if you are a parent and are concerned about your child’s well-being, you can contact them from anywhere in the world. It has a multidisciplinary team made up of psychologists, educational psychologists, speech therapists, etc., who are highly specialised in the treatment of different problems affecting children and young people: separations, ADHD, emotional and affective difficulties, adaptive problems, learning disorders and difficulties, behavioural disorders, sleep disorders, grieving processes, addiction to new technologies, among others.

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

  • If you need a reliable clinic and would like more information about Instituto Mensalus, just click here.