Psychological Therapy

Sometimes children act in ways that are the opposite of what they have been taught by parents and teachers. Some children passively disobey adults while others have severe outbursts with screaming, insults, destroying property, hurting others or self, or running away. It is very difficult for the parents to help a child at such moments, as they become angry themselves and feel helpless as the child does not respond to either rewards or threats. The first step in dealing with behavioral issues is to understand their origin. Bad behavior can be triggered by anxiety, jealousy, unmet emotional needs, sensory or cognitive overload, marital problems between the parents, and other situational causes. However, in some cases, they may result from a neurological condition, such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, Oppositional Defiant Disorder, or Autism Spectrum Disorder. The initial assessment of a child's and family functioning plays a crucial role in prescribing the right type of treatment and for making referrals to other services, if necessary.

Children can have a strong reaction to both negative and positive life changes. However, due to their limited ability to understand and express their emotions, children might show their feelings in unusual ways or not show them at all. For example, upon the birth of a sibling, a child might regress to infantile behaviors, such as bed wetting or demanding to be spoon fed, in an attempt to attract the same kind of affection as his baby brother. Sometimes, children might adopt a behavior that is the opposite of what they really need. For example, after parental divorce some children start acting in a protective manner towards their parent, although it is actually the child who feels abandoned and in need of protection. These maladaptive patterns can become entrenched and can transfer to many other situations and relationships in a person's life. It is crucial to consult with a psychologist/psychotherapist whenever your child faces a major life transition, whether or not they show concerning symptoms. In cases where the child has suffered a traumatic event such as serious illness, bereavement, or abuse, immediate attention is required.

The ability to form secure and enjoyable relationships with peers relies on self-esteem, positive early experience in relationships with attachments figures, the ability to tolerate and deal with conflicts, and interest in other people and topics/ activities that are common for that age. Helping a child overcome social struggles requires a thorough understanding of these factors. Through interviews, observation and projective techniques, a therapist will get a sense of the child's personality, inner resources, and learned relational patterns, and can devise a therapeutic plan to address any obstacles. Such targeted intervention is usually more effective than the popular approach of teaching social skills. Most often, parents and siblings are also involved at various stages of therapy.

Individuals with ADHD differ dramatically in their level of adjustment and satisfaction with life. This can vary from child to child, depending on the degree to which he has learned to manage his symptoms and the degree of acceptance and understanding by family and teachers. ADHD can lead to an array of secondary problems, including behavioral acting out, underachievement, anxiety, social problems, bullying, explosiveness, poor judgement, etc. While it is impossible to eliminate ADHD deficits without medication, therapy and counselling can be very helpful in addressing the secondary issues related to ADHD. It can help a child achieve a greater self-awareness, determine what makes their symptoms worse, find healthier ways to expresses their emotions and learn to modulate their behavior by conscious choice. All of these will lead to better self-esteem and greater adjustment. Additionally, parents of ADHD children often benefit from professional advice and coaching.

Gifted children often possess traits that make it hard for them to adjust to and function in the real world. They are often emotionally intense, hyper-focused on their own ideas, seeking constant stimulation, getting easily bored, socially immature or even awkward, unconcerned about the practicalities of life, exhaustingly chatty, etc. Additionally, these children are often prone to perfectionism, anxiety, self-criticism, and depression. It appears that the disparity between their advanced intellectual skills and normal or subnormal emotional development is responsible for these struggles, as they are often overwhelmed by the information they absorb from their environment and by their own thoughts. Gifted children and their parents benefit greatly from counselling by a professional who is experienced in working with this population.

Adolescence is the most turbulent, challenging and exciting time of life. In this critical period, young people are extremely vulnerable to anxiety, depression, addiction, suicide, bipolar disorder and obsessive-compulsive disorder. At the time when they need adult guidance the most, adolescents feel compelled to reject parental help and turn instead to friends or internet resources. Counselling provides a great opportunity for adolescents to benefit from interactions with an accepting and compassionate adult who can help them resolve their issues, define their identity and values, and formulate reasonable goals and plans. In many cases, serious mental health issues can be prevented with effective counselling. It is important for parents to understand that their teenage child should be willing to participate in counselling and that the teenager should have the autonomy to decide about the purpose and goals of such counselling. Privacy is extremely important for adolescents and is essential for the development of a trusting relationship between them and the therapist.

Autism is a developmental condition and, therefore, it cannot be cured. Children with this syndrome experience a variety of deficits and challenges that impact their daily life. They have a hard time expressing and understanding emotions, reading non-verbal cues, figuring out the intentions of others, understanding jokes and sarcasm, engaging appropriately with peers, etc. As a result, they often feel isolated from others, which causes them considerable distress. Through various activities, a therapist can help an autistic child develop their lacking social skills, thus improving their ability to adapt to social environments. Parents and teachers of these children also require ongoing guidance as the needs of the children change over time. It is advisable for parents of an autistic child to connect with a professional who will be able to follow up after the intensive part of therapy is over, so that the child will develop a long-term connection with that person.