When choosing a psychologist who is also an expert in child and adolescent therapy, many parents wonder what they can expect from this kind of psychological therapy and if it will help their children. Child and adolescent therapy have a number of specifications for the age group to which it is directed. In the case of children, the techniques used by Child Psychologist in Scarsdale NY for treatment are different from adult therapy. Since children are not able to express themselves like adults do, it is vital to choose a professional that can relate to the child on a deep level. Children feel, they want to express, and many express themselves in very different ways. Only a professional can determine how to interpret these expressions.
For example, a child may have symptoms of depression, but an adult does not recognize it as such since depression in a very young child manifests differently than it would in an adult. Because of this, the first session with the child psychologist in Scarsdale NY is designed to let both parties become familiar with each other. Therapy is crucial at this point, and intervention by family and friends should be taken seriously. In this first session, the parents should accompany the child. In fact, any other family members or friends the child clings to should be there. The base of emotional support the child needs will be determined during the first couple of sessions.
Any present fear may be grounded with emotional difficulties, meaning the child feels a certain way and may not be able to express him or herself verbally. This fear could range from not feeling important, feelings of emotional instability due to parental separation or death of a family member, reflecting parental overprotection, and so on. Without family involvement, it is very difficult to see what is causing the child issues.
Many times, psychological therapy involves family sessions in order to work out aspects as described above. However, individual work with the child is also important. For more information visit The Child & Family Institute.