How I Work
I work with young children and teens from both Acceptance and Commitment Therapy and Cognitive Behaviour Therapy approaches.
My first step is to set up a parent intake session with you as the parent/caregiver.
The purpose of this session is for you to get to know me, how I work and for you to share the challenges your child is experiencing.
If your child is young, that is not a teen, we would usually not include your child in this first intake session.
This allows you as a parent to speak freely about the difficulties your child is experiencing.
Additionally, children I find may feel embarrassed to hear their parents sharing their private psychological experiences with a stranger.
There are times when you and I may decide to include your child in this intake session, this is situation specific.
My therapy approach with children is to tailor the ACT and CBT delivery in a way which is suited to their age,
for example,with very young kiddies I will use a play-based approach to assist them, and importantly, to equip them with
skills and techniques specifically tailored to their personal challenges with the aim that they may
be able to meet their struggles using therapy skills when they are out there in the world - at school or at home.
Sometimes, particularly with the littlies, I include you as the parent/caregiver in some sessions
simply because little children need the support of their parents at home to remind them of the skills and techniques they have learned in therapy with me.
You as the parents can play a vital role in supporting and encouraging your child to implement what they have learned in therapy.
My work with teens does not always begin with a parent intake session, this decision you
and I will make when I call you to discuss the therapy process. In some instances, it may be important to include you as the parent in some session with your teen.
I will however always first discuss this with your teen, their consent and ‘buy in’ into this suggestion is important.
For those parents who need support with parenting approaches I offer
parent sessions to assist parents with parenting approaches they may have not considered that may better suit the temperament of their child. Each child is different and not all parenting approaches suit all children. I offer a tailored approach which you as the parent and I as the guide put together to meet your specific needs.
In some cases, particularly with primary school aged children there may be a need for me to meet with their teacher,
which I am willing to do at your request as the parent.
