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Individual Therapy with Children
Meeting with children individually gives them an opportunity to present their difficulties - as well as the family's challenges -
from their perspective. Children, though, usually do not choose to begin therapy; most often, it is parents, relatives, teachers,
clergy, etc., that have identified a need for therapy.
The child's motivation and interest is created through the development of
the therapeutic relationship: rapport, trust, and safety are crucial, necessary elements for progress, growth, and healing. The
challenge is engaging children so that therapy is not a boring, uncomfortable chore, but rather, can become a place of comfort and
acceptance; or, a place where exciting and vital adventures in self-discovery can happen.
Working with children differs greatly from the traditional adult "talk therapy" session. It is important to have an understanding of
child development and to work with each child at his or her own level. Children (even very bright, verbally sophisticated children)
often do not know how to identify or explain the causes for their sadness, fears, or behaviors. Sometimes, it is embarrassment,
shame, or traumatic experiences that are an obstacle to direct verbal expression. Part of the work with a child is to help them
find images, symbols, gestures, and words instead of symptomatic behaviors, to express themselves, and to start again on their
path of healthy development.
I engage children in the therapeutic process by using:
- Play therapy as a way to reduce anxiety and guardedness. Play provides a structure and context that is comfortable for children,
while allowing indirect yet experiential expression of feelings, needs, traumas, and hidden strengths
- Art therapy to help encourage free expression of familial, social, behavioral, and emotional themes, and to creatively search for solutions
- Sand Tray therapy using small toy figures and objects, enabling children to symbolically enact healing story themes
In many situations, I have found Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (or, CBT) to be an extremely effective model for working with children
struggling with a variety of commonly-seen emotional and behavioral problems. CBT explores, challenges and replaces skewed thoughts
and perceptions, helping clients achieve a more realistic and positive self appraisal, and to attain measurable goals by using new
coping skills. Although it might seem that CBT is not compatible with children's capabilities, children actually respond very
well to this approach when it is woven into a format or presentation that is attuned to their developmental level.
Using child-friendly materials;
I help parents and children to work together to develop a plan to measure specific behaviors at home and at school; to use new ideas
and approaches for making desired changes; and to feel a sense of reward in achieving those goals. This approach allows the child to
actively participate in their own success as we identify and track their progress. The parent too, often feels once again a sense of joy
and hope as they see their child naturally develop ways to think, feel, and behave better.
To learn more about San Jose Child Therapy and how I work, visit my website at
RandiFredricks.com, call 408-315-0645,
or
contact me online .
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