Child Counselling
Jennifer McDermott, M.A., R.S.W., Counselling Services provides a reassuring & safe environment to support children around a wide range of issues that may be causing them distress. Child counselling is often useful for addressing issues that are negatively impacting a child's life & they unfortunately are not able to deal with alone.
Like adults, children experience problems & face challenges at some point or another. Parents & family may not always be able to help. When the need arises, child therapy is aimed at helping children to overcome these challenges & cope with difficult situations that are causing them distress. |
Unfortunately, abuse & maltreatment are the most serious child counselling issues & require urgent attention. Regardless of the extent of the presenting concern, sometimes children find it difficult to express their worry, which means that problems can be left undetected & unresolved. It is therefore often helpful to seek out professional help if it is evident that a child is unhappy.
More information about this child & adolscent therapist can be found under our "About" us page that can be accessed through the tab located at the top of your screen.
More information about this child & adolscent therapist can be found under our "About" us page that can be accessed through the tab located at the top of your screen.
Child Therapy
Therapeutic approaches most suitable to child counselling, emphasis the relationship between client & counsellor. Techniques such as Client Centred Therapy are an effective way of encouraging children to express their troubles. Play Therapy & Expressive Arts Therapy are also worth considering, as they use alternative methods that can enable the expression of deep-rooted feelings & emotions.
Counselling for children is similar to adult counselling. Both depend strongly on the construction of a trusting relationship between counsellor & client. The child is allowed to tell their own story without fear of judgement or interrogation, in a safe reassuring environment.
Expressive Arts Therapy, also known as Creative Arts Therapy involves the use of creative arts such as dance, drama, music, painting & poetry as a form of therapy. This therapy can be effective at helping children to discover hidden thoughts & feelings by expressing them through various art forms.
This proven technique is thought to be especially useful for children who are having difficulty articulating their emotions, feelings & past experiences verbally. This may be due to abuse, violence or other traumatic events that they may have trouble processing. Expressive Arts Therapy can also be used in both individual & group settings to treat problems related to medical illness, bereavement, divorce, criminal behaviour & other behaviour problems.
Jennifer McDermott Counselling Services can help you if you are in need of a child therapist.