children and teens: CHILD THERAPY PLACES ARE FULL CURRENTLY

Children use the language of play to express their emotions and psychological difficulties.

Play may be initiated with materials such as paint, paper, clay, sand and miniature toys or figurines.

Play therapy is an effective tool in assisting children and families who have experienced any of the following issues:

• Social difficulties
• Adjustment to separation and divorce
• Sleep problems
• Friendship difficulties
• Bullying
• Excessive anger and aggression
• coping with illness or death
• Sibling rivalry
• Worry and anxiety
• Self-esteem and identity issues
• Children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Book in with Rachael for play therapy support.

Art therapy provides numerous benefits for children.

Art therapy fosters emotional regulation, boosts self-confidence, promotes social skills development, supports sensorimotor development, enhances self-expression, stimulates cognitive skills, assists in coping with trauma or loss, and encourages self-identity and empowerment.

The benefits of art therapy are as unique as the individuals participating. Rachael collaborates closely with each child, tailoring her interventions and supporting their unique therapeutic journey.

Book your child in with Rachael for a journey of healing with art therapy.

School avoidance, also known as School Phobia or School Refusal occurs in around 5% of children.

Such children may outright refuse to attend school or create a range of reasons why they should not go. 

They  miss a lot of school, complaining of not feeling well, with vague, unexplainable symptoms. 

Many of these children have anxiety-related symptoms over which they have no conscious control.

Perhaps they have headaches, stomachaches, hyperventilation, nausea or dizziness. In general, more clear-cut symptoms like vomiting, diarrhea, fever or weight loss, which are likely to have a physical basis, are uncommon. 

School refusal symptoms occur most often on school days, and are usually absent on weekends.

Book your child in with Rachael for support in returning your child to school and working through the related anxiety.

Feeling worried or anxious sometimes is normal for children. But some children have excessive or repeated fears, worries and anxious feelings that can last for weeks or more.

These strong feelings  interfere with typical daily activities, such as doing new activities or seeing friends, which children may try to avoid.

When children’s anxiety is severe or long-lasting it may be an anxiety disorder.

For parents, it can be hard to spot the signs of anxiety as it can show up in a variety of ways. It can be difficult to know what a ‘normal’ amount of worry is, and when to seek further help. Avoiding a situation that makes your child anxious may seem best, but it can quickly become a pattern that is hard to break.

For support with reducing your child's anxiety, book in with Rachael.

Rachael offers a range of child assessments that can be used to diagnose, support academic ability, identify intellectual delay, learning disorders, identify cognitive strengths and weaknesses, identify difficulties in communication/socialisation/sensory experiences and repetitive behaviours.

 Psychometric tests include exploring:

ADHD

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Intelligence (IQ)

Learning Ability/Difficulties

Anxiety

Mood Disorders

Adaptive Behaviour

Coping Resources

Stress

Anger

Psychological Testing is an individual process, please contact Rachael for a quote.

Teenage and Young Adulthood years can be a tumultous period, that brings many challenges for a young person. At times such difficulties can bring about mental health disorders, such as Anxiety, Depression, Substance Abuse, Psychosis and Trauma.

With a focus on early intervention, Rachael is able to work with supporting teenagers and young adults, at this crucial time of their lives. Through her creative therapy approach, Rachael tailors her therapy to meet the evolving and unique needs of each young person that she supports.

Rachael uses a range of assessment and treatment strategies, that are evidence-based and relevant to working with young adults.

Book with Rachael for psychological therapy for your teen/young adult.