At present, many of our young people struggle with their mental wellbeing. Psychoanalytic psychotherapy offers children and adolescents a safe and trusting environment where they can use play and language to explore and understand their fear, sadness, hurt, anger, anxiety or confusion about themselves, their family or other aspects of their lives. 

A comprehensive approach requires regular communication with parents and/or caregivers, as part of the therapeutic process. Child Psychotherapists have an in-depth understanding of child development, the impact of experience on the developing brain and the internal world of the child. With these understandings, Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists are able to support parents, families and carers to understand the meaning behind their child’s behaviour and increase their understanding of the child’s perspective. 

The psychoanalytic approach gently encourages the child to articulate thoughts and feelings which may have been difficult to express in other contexts. In the unique environment of the clinic, these feelings can be explored in depth. This is achieved through facilitating the creative capacity that all human beings possess. 

 

​How Does the Therapy Process work?​

 

Child and Adolescent psychotherapists use a variety of approaches in working with families, groups or individuals of any age. A Child Psychotherapist will decide what might suit the particular family after a brief phone conversation in the referral process. In the first session, the therapist will usually meet with all family/whanau members who live with the young person, to explore their concerns and explain the therapy process.