When You Need To See A Child Psychologist

By Shirley Phillips


It is easy to assume that a playful and simple life for your children is all they need. Guardians and parents forget that the experiences during formative years have a profound influence later in life. In case the experiences are nasty and traumatic, it may stretch all the way to adulthood unless a professional child psychologist intervenes. This is the best way to shield children from the inevitable traumas of life.

The inability to openly express their feelings means that children bottle their emotions. This is harmful because it suppresses their urge or confidence to ask for help. The effects may lead to socialization difficulties and weak problem solving. The therapist seeks to understand the root of the problem with the aim of providing a solution. It takes time and skill to decode the displacement of weighty psychological issues in defiant behavior.

Most children suffer from school related stress. They have to deal with homework or are anxious about tests. They may be facing peer pressure or are being bullied. Some of this anxiety might be manifested in lack of enthusiasm to attend school. In the evening, they might not want to discuss what happened in school. This is one of those moments to engage a professional therapist.

At different ages, family matters begin to affect children. This is especially serious if a major change is happening. The pressure of divorce, separation, illness or relocation will affect children a great deal. Children psychologists help them to effectively cope with such changes. They also help the parent to understand life from the perspective of vulnerable children. The parent or guardian thus makes it easier for the children to cope with the situation.

Children also go through experiences that affect their lives directly. An injury, accident or any form of abuse is psychologically traumatizing. The impact such occurrences have on their self esteem is huge. Some of these occurrences change the lives of victims forever. The resultant mental pressure, moods, socialization changes require handling by a therapist.

Children will display signs that point at the need for professional assistance. Notable loss of appetite is common alongside sleeplessness and moodiness. Drastic change in behavior that affects normal socialization or academic performance should raise an alarm bell. Children who were originally social suddenly want to be isolated. They are evidently stressed, moody, sulky and tearful. Excessive emotions also call for professional help.

Development psychologists help children with delayed milestones. Some signs of these delays include failure to talk at the right time, walk or train to use the potty. The therapist will eliminate or confirm any doubts about autism or other developmental disorders. This is important in enabling the parent or guardian to take early steps towards correcting the situation.

Children should be taken through individualized counseling. It will take a while before the root of the problem and solution are found considering limited expressiveness in children. Follow-up is therefore important for most children. Group therapy is used in situations where a set of children are struggling with a similar traumatic experience. Personal therapy must also follow to deal with individual responses. With the assistance of a professional, your children will be insulated from the nasty childhood experiences that threaten their normal growth.




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