There are many reasons for child psychological counseling: developmental delays, family problems, school problems. How do I know when my child needs psychological counseling? Find anyone for advice? What do you expect from this psychotherapy? Here are 5 questions to ask yourself before jumping into this, or not.

Summary:

Why should you take the child for psychological counseling?

When to consult?

Looking for experts in any field for advice?

What is the consultation included

What do you expect from this psychotherapy?

After nearly a decade since the socialization of child psychology, more and more families are turning to counseling rooms. However, the quality of screening and the quality of medical professionals are not the only reasons for this. Psychologist and child psychologist, said: “The changing nature of the team raises many other problems. The number of divorces has increased, leading to more and more single or remarried families to seek counseling. In addition, there are more and more cases of drug addiction, alcoholism, and even depression among adolescents, sometimes even children. That’s not to mention that some parents naturally assume their child may be autistic or develop early. To make it easy to imagine, I think that each class has at least one student in need of psychological counseling ”

Why should you take the child for psychological counseling?

The reasons for psychological counseling cannot be exhausted at all because they are so many and varied. Furthermore, in many cases, the first thing that worries and starts parents are their symptoms (sleep disturbances, eating disorders, sadness, etc.). When a child and / or parent feels uncomfortable or difficult, anything can be a reason to see a psychologist. “A few days ago, a mother came to me and told me that her daughter was constipated.” Obviously, Agnès Pargade was not a gastroenterologist. But as the discussion deepens, it becomes clear that the problem lies in keeping clean. That “this mother, because she doesn’t have time, doesn’t want to stop using diapers to teach her baby to potty. Behind an engine that sounds trivial at first glance, often hides a real problem that needs clarification. From the moment my family comes to see me for psychological care, I have an obligation to help them. ”

Depending on the age group, the most common causes for counseling for a child are:

Before the age of 3: the main causes are often related to developmental delays (ability to learn to walk, learn to speak, etc.), sleep disturbances, and suspicion of children with autism, which have caused fear. great in parents.

After 3 years of age and entering kindergarten: children have difficulty being separated from their parents, unable to concentrate at school or having problems integrating into the community (eg they bite or hit other children).

– The first school year (grade 1) is a pivotal year. That is when the problems children may encounter when going to school are most evident (dyslexia, early puberty, over-understanding).

– Immature problems appear from 5th to 6th grade, for example, children are not able to do their own homework or are not well adapted to middle school. Doctor advises when, for any reason, a baby has to endure ridicule from others.

From grade 8 to grade 9, puberty problems begin to appear (change in appearance during puberty, anorexia, uncontrolled eating, alcohol and drug addiction)

– The final pivotal stage is when they start high school, when they have difficulties with career orientation, family disagreements, and sexual issues.

When do children need counseling?

“In general, families realize that they have to do something when they reach their tolerance level”. “When anxiety begins to have serious consequences for the whole family, it is time to seek psychological counseling,” explains the psychologist. Psychiatry is about looking at each other’s tolerance: everyone can change their mood easily, there are days when things go well, but there are stormy days everywhere. But it will be the trigger for controversy in the family when one or more members can not take it anymore ». It is therefore also not possible to quantify or measure this level, but in the event of doubt, the opinion and advice of a GP or family pediatrician can still be helpful. In particular, they can also refer parents to a more professional colleague, if things don’t get better.

Looking for experts in any field for advice?

Psychologists or children’s psychiatrists? Consultation in private or professional centers? It is not always easy for parents to know who to ask for help. “If they want to consult with a licensed therapist to prescribe a drug, do additional tests (on coordination of motor function, speech ability), the psychologist explains. (language), for which insurance reimbursement is still available, a pediatric psychologist is most suitable. A child psychologist can be seen directly without going through a general practitioner. If parents want to solve problems through discussions, a psychiatrist would be more appropriate. , even when child analysts are very rare, will produce results that are sometimes slightly different, especially through the child’s paintings or dreams. The scene of a long-term therapy »So it all depends on the problem the family has.

What does counseling include?

“It is impossible to give psychological counseling to a child without counseling the family,” says the psychologist. This is the first point that makes the difference between children’s therapy and adult therapy. Interviews with parents, and their attitudes during counseling, are all essential information for the therapist to better understand younger patients. Hence, even if parents are unable to attend the full counseling session, their regular attendance is essential.

Furthermore, for a child or adolescent, techniques for outreach are not the same, and tools for emotional expression and reconciliation, such as drawings, games, or regular music. used.

As for consultation duration, it can vary depending on the problem encountered. «Sometimes a child patient can open his heart during the first consultation and have a good conversation; that is enough to troubleshoot the situation. Families may not realize this right away, but when they come back for their next appointment, they are often surprised that the situation has improved ». When more follow-up visits are needed, therapy can last up to a year, sometimes longer. “Personally, I often do psychotherapy at the start of the school year, and treatment will last until the next summer vacation unless the start of therapy occurs later,” the psychologist explains. But usually, from the moment children enter school, psychological counseling begins as soon as the October vacation. This is usually the time when the first difficulties, in terms of learning or not, begin to weigh on. Daily life. ”

What to expect from this psychotherapy?

Psychologists were surprised when recounting: “Parents’ expectations often exceed our capabilities. Most want a miracle and quickly find a solution to their problems. In short, they almost wanted us to transform the child the way they wanted. But it’s not that simple and most of all, it’s not the role of our doctor. »Therefore, in order to easily assess the expectations of parties, therapists regularly communicate with parents so that they can express their feelings and comments. For example, when parents say that they are very disappointed at not having a definite result, the psychiatrist may remind them that progression to recover from the mental disorder takes time and can sometimes be difficult to evaluate. That’s right. Therefore, it is not always good for a child to agree to return to school after demanding a break from school, and vice versa.

“Before you start, parents need to be ready to hear what the therapist tells them. Because, I repeat, it is not only the child who is involved in the therapy. Some people have the impression that we are interfering with their lives and they have felt bad with our presents, or even, sometimes because of the simple advice we give. . However, being willing to ask yourself questions is also the key to a successful treatment. “