CHILDREN IN THERAPY
In understanding children's problems, it is critical to assess the problem within the child's context, the most important one being the family. Scientific research supports this view. For example research provides evidence that ineffective parenting and extreme marital conflict can lead to child problems. Sibling relationships can also be a factor in children's disruptive behavior. Therapists must talk to parents, siblings, stepparents, grandparents, and other important people in the child's life in treating childhood problems.
Children's problems are not caused by families, life is more complicated than that. But families are very important in helping children resolve their problems. Family members are also affected when children experience problems. Individual factors like the child's temperament or his or her genetic predisposition for depression, anxiety, or ADHD can cause problems. Changes in the family like moving, having a new baby, getting laid off from work, or divorce can cause extra stress and can lead to children having problems that can affect the whole family.
Several other contexts besides the family can contribute to children's emotional and behavior problems. These include friends, neighborhood, and school. Many children experience significant problems when they start school and have to adapt to the other children as well as a rigid structure and teachers who are often not well-trained in helping with a child's emotional development as well as his or her cognitive needs.
At Glencairn we take John Donne's statement that "No man is an island" seriously and see children as part of a family, neighborhood, community, and culture. We treat children using play therapy, artwork, talk therapy, family therapy and other interventions appropriate for the child's age and developmental stage. Some of the problems we have treated in the past include children with attention problems, mood disorders, behavior problems, academic under performance, problems of attachment, aspergers, autism, emotional disorders, blended family problems, social anxiety, bedwetting, and others too numerous to mention.
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