Written by: Amanda Dounis, Executive Contributor
Executive Contributors at Brainz Magazine are handpicked and invited to contribute because of their knowledge and valuable insight within their area of expertise.
This article answers some curiosities why kids should go to a psychotherapist. 5 cool reasons that help you understand the usefulness. After reading this article, you will feel more comfortable knowing what kids get out of psychotherapy. Enjoy.
Reason 1: To know if there is support available
Too often kids grow to feel alone. They can feel isolated and feel like no one understands. Sometimes kids also find it difficult to turn to their parents. Having a trusted adult becomes useful. This adult may be a teacher, a friend, a parent, a coach, or anyone that they feel a trusting connection with.
A psychotherapist offers one step further and is equipped with skills. A psychotherapist is trained to deliver techniques.
A well-trained psychotherapist is equipped with the necessary skills to provide a trusting therapeutic relationship.
Inside this relationship are non-judgment, care and professionalism. Being non-judgemental is an essential ingredient to allow for exploration and growth amongst the young client. It becomes a pathway to travel together with curiosity and discovery. Feeling supported is key.
Reason 2: To become self-aware
Awareness is a form of grounding. Some young clients may be aware of what's not right, or what happens to them after an emotional outburst. Perhaps they may be able to generalise about behaviour that they wish to change, but can't specifically point out problem behaviours.
A well-trained psychotherapist can provide opportunities for young clients to become more self-aware. Increased awareness of thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Awareness of themselves, their need for control, emotions and the sensations they produce, and all that comes with both comfort and discomfort.
Imagine how much easier it becomes to tackle a problem or gain skill if an individual is well connected within themselves and therefore self-aware. This can lead to a sense of responsibility with what they can control and letting go of what they cannot control.
Reason 3: To work towards solutions by building skills
Instead of staying on what's not working and focusing on problems, it would be beneficial for young adults to move to solution-building. Teaching them to ask themselves "whereto from here" and "what's next" and some future paced suggestions. This helps move from a 'stuck' position.
Suggestions work well. A flexible mindset is also part of a solution-oriented approach. Using imagination can lead to possibilities of outcomes. Add some creativity and wonderful things can happen not just to thoughts, but perceptions and therefore interpretations. Just this change alone helps with moving forward.
Reason 4: To learn tools moving forward
Put simply, after rapport is built, young adults get to learn about techniques that may be useful. I like to point out here that techniques do not work alone. They are helpfully utilised by individuals. Consider for example how many different ways one situation can be reframed. Grounding can be used differently by each individual. Imagine all the different ways you can ground yourself. Mindfulness can be used by anyone at any time of the day. So it becomes a useful tool for young people to recognise when they need it, and how they will use it.
In a sense, it's the tools that they already have within. I believe we all have these tools. Life sometimes has some surprises for us and we can't access what we need at certain times. In a sense, we become contaminated with limiting beliefs. Until we access our internal resources.
Reason 5: To discover ways of accessing internal resources
Looking back to look forward is a great way to access internal resources. For example, ask a young individual "do you remember a time when you were able to…". Looking back on this memory can empower one to identify their strengths. Just because they are stuck now, it can somewhat be reassuring to know they have the skills inside, and decide what they need to let go of, or do, so that they can access their internal resources to move forward.
Guided visualisations, writing and problem solving, drawing and planning are creative ways of accessing internal resources. Breathing, meditations, and mindfulness help centre and quiet the mind and body so that there is more connectedness. This also helps with synchronising internal resources.
Now you know that there are a bunch of reasons for kids to see a psychotherapist. We could write a whole book about it.
Click here for a great read on parents, kids, and the windstorms of life.
Amanda Dounis, Executive Contributor Brainz Magazine
Amanda Dounis, is a leader in kids, tweens and teens coping skills. A professional award-winning leader in the early childhood industry, Amanda has added wonderful tools to her therapy practice. Amanda says it's difficult for these kids working through these challenging years. So she enthusiastically joins their ride to show them to smooth over bumpy roads and keep moving forward. In the end, it's the challenges that give them the opportunity to practice their coping skills. She certainly promotes self-empowerment through courage and curiosity.
