Children's Therapy

Post-traumatic stress in children

Trauma therapy offers children the opportunity to share their feelings by feeling safe, explain what they have been through, and receive support. In therapy, children learn coping and relaxation skills that help them manage the anxiety they feel due to the trauma. This makes it easier for them to talk about what they have experienced. Through therapy, children learn to reframe some of their thoughts about the trauma. They learn to get rid of guilt and/or shame about what they experienced.

Post-traumatic stress in children is an emotional and psychological response to traumatic events, such as abuse, violence, natural disasters, or serious accidents. If you suspect that a child is experiencing post-traumatic stress, it is important to seek professional help from a therapist or psychologist who specializes in treating childhood trauma. Here are some general strategies that can help work on post-traumatic stress in children:

Create a safe environment: It is essential to provide a safe and stable environment for the child. Make sure they feel protected physically and emotionally by providing support, reassurance, and structure.
Encourage communication: Encourages the child to express her feelings and thoughts in an environment of trust and support. You can use creative activities like drawing, writing, or playing with dolls to facilitate communication about the trauma in a more indirect way if the child has difficulty talking directly about it.
Validate their emotions: It is important to validate and acknowledge a child's emotions, letting them know that it is normal to feel scared, sad, angry, or confused after a traumatic event. Help the child identify and label her emotions, and reassure her that her feelings are valid and understandable.
Establish routines and structure: Daily routines can provide security and stability in a child's life. Establish regular times for eating, sleeping, and activities, as this can help reduce anxiety and provide a sense of control and predictability.
Avoid unnecessary exposure to trauma: Avoid repeated exposure to trauma through conversations or images that may reactivate traumatic memories in the child. However, it is important to balance this with the need to properly approach and process the event with the help of a professional.
Seek professional support: Specialized childhood trauma therapy, such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or play therapy, can be extremely beneficial in helping children process and overcome post-traumatic stress. A trained therapist can work with the child to develop healthy coping strategies and help rebuild her sense of safety and well-being.

Remember that each child is unique, so it is important to adapt intervention strategies to the individual needs of the child. Guidance and support from trained professionals are critical in helping children overcome post-traumatic stress and recover emotionally.

Post-traumatic stress in children's therapy is provided by: Note. Consult only available in Spanish language for the moment.

Natalia Morales Pérez Psicóloga localizada en Colombia

Depression and/or anxiety in children

Cognitive behavioral therapy is a form of therapy used to treat anxiety or depression, it helps the child change negative thoughts into a more effective and positive way of thinking, which leads to more effective behavior. Behavior therapy to treat anxiety may include helping children cope with and manage anxiety symptoms. Behavior therapy includes child therapy, family therapy, or a combination of both. The school may also be included in the treatment plan. For very young children, parental involvement in treatment is key.

The management of depression and/or anxiety in children requires a comprehensive approach that involves mental health professionals, as well as the support and understanding of caregivers and the family environment. Here are some general strategies that can help in managing depression and/or anxiety in children:

Seek professional help: It is important to seek the help of a mental health professional, such as a psychologist or psychiatrist who specializes in treating children. These professionals can carry out an appropriate evaluation and provide the necessary treatment and support.
Create a supportive environment: Caregivers and family play a crucial role in managing depression and/or anxiety in children. It is important to create a safe and supportive environment, encouraging open communication and emotional expression. Be sure to provide quality time, active listening, and affection for the child.
Establish healthy routines: Regular and healthy routines can be beneficial for children with depression and/or anxiety. This includes establishing regular times for sleeping, eating, and participating in physical and recreational activities. Routines provide a sense of structure and security for the child.
Encourage physical activity and play: Regular physical activity and play are important for children's emotional well-being. Exercise can release endorphins, improve mood, and reduce anxiety. Play can also be therapeutic and help the child to express and process emotions.
Teaching Coping Skills: Helps the child develop healthy coping skills to manage stress, anxiety, and negative thoughts. This can include relaxation techniques, deep breathing, positive visualization, and identifying negative thoughts and replacing them with more realistic and positive thoughts.
Promote a healthy lifestyle: A balanced diet, adequate sleep and avoiding excessive consumption of screens can contribute to the mental well-being of the child. Make sure your child eats a nutritious diet, gets enough sleep, and limits screen time, especially before bed.
Provide social support: Promotes positive social relationships for the child. It may be helpful to involve him in extracurricular activities, clubs, or peer groups where he can interact with other children and develop friendships.

Remember that each child is unique, so it is important to adapt management strategies to the individual needs of the child. Working collaboratively with a mental health professional will help design a treatment and support plan specific to the individual child.

Depression or anxiety is children is treated by: Note. Consult only available in Spanish language for the moment.

Natalia Morales Pérez Psicóloga localizada en Colombia

Management and emotional expression in children

Giving emotional education to a child is teaching him to face the problems that arise throughout his life in an appropriate way. What will have benefits not only in childhood but also in adulthood, acquiring essential tools for the well-being of it. Emotional intelligence consists of having skills that help us both to recognize our emotions and those of others and manage them properly.

A person with emotional intelligence is confident in her own abilities and maintains satisfactory relationships with others, always adequately communicating what she thinks and feels while taking into account the emotions and feelings of others. He has high self-esteem, feels motivated to face challenges, and has sufficient resources to resolve conflicts.

Emotional management and expression in children is an important skill that helps them understand and manage their emotions in a healthy way. Here are some strategies to encourage emotional management and expression in children:

Recognize and Validate Emotions: Help children identify and label their emotions. Teach them emotional vocabulary and validate their feelings, letting them know that all emotions are normal and acceptable.
Encourage Open Communication: Create a safe and trusting environment where children feel comfortable expressing their emotions. Encourage children to talk about how they are feeling, and listen actively and nonjudgmentally.
Model emotional management: Children learn a lot by watching how adults manage their own emotions. Be a positive role model by expressing your own emotions in healthy ways and demonstrating effective coping techniques, such as deep breathing, positive self-talk, or taking time to calm down.
Teaching Emotional Regulation Strategies: Helps children develop skills to regulate their emotions. You can teach them relaxation techniques, such as deep breathing or counting to ten. You can also teach them to identify the physical signs that they are experiencing intense emotion, and how to take breaks or find activities that help them calm down.
Encourage Play and Creativity: Play and creative activities provide a healthy outlet for children to express and process their emotions. Provide art materials, toys, and opportunities for imaginative play, where they can act out their emotions and experiences.
Promote empathy: Help children understand the emotions of others and develop empathy. Encourage him to put himself in other people's shoes and consider how they would feel in certain situations. This will help them develop social skills and establish healthier relationships.
Provide emotional support: Make sure children feel supported and loved unconditionally. Offer comfort and support when they are going through difficult times, and encourage them to seek help and talk about their emotions when they need it.

Remember that each child is unique, so it is important to adapt the strategies to their age and level of development. Emotional management and expression are skills that develop with time and practice, so it is important to be patient and provide ongoing support to children as they learn to manage their emotions in healthy ways.

Management and emotional expression in children is provided by: Note. Consult only available in Spanish language for the moment.

Natalia Morales Pérez Psicóloga localizada en Colombia

Social skills

Safe space where tools are incorporated and practiced to improve relationships and social interaction. Thus, it is intended that children learn and practice some skills that will facilitate interaction with their peers.

Usually they will be accompanied by other peers with group therapy once the child has already acquired certain strategies and tools in individual therapy. In this way, group therapy will allow you to put these strategies into practice in a structured context.

The development of social skills in children is fundamental to establishing healthy relationships and being successful in their personal and academic lives. Here are some strategies that can help encourage the development of social skills in children:

Modeling social skills: Children learn a lot by observing and imitating the behavior of adults. Be a positive role model by demonstrating social skills such as active listening, taking turns in conversation, showing empathy, and being kind and courteous to others.
Teaching basic communication skills: Helps children develop effective communication skills. Teaches greetings, proper use of courtesy words (please, thank you, excuse me), how to start and maintain a conversation, and how to express your thoughts and feelings clearly and respectfully.
Practice cooperative play: Encourages cooperative and group play. Encourages children to work together, share, take turns, and resolve conflicts peacefully. Group play provides opportunities to practice social skills such as collaboration, negotiation, and mutual respect.
Teach empathy: Empathy is fundamental to social skills. Help children understand the emotions of others and put themselves in their place. Encourage empathy by asking questions like "How do you think that feels?" and help them develop the ability to recognize and respond to the emotions of others in an understanding and supportive way.
Teaching Conflict Resolution: Helps children resolve conflicts peacefully and constructively. Teach them problem-solving techniques, such as the use of dialogue, compromise, and finding mutually beneficial solutions. Encourage them to express their needs and opinions assertively, while learning to listen and consider the perspectives of others.
Encourage participation in group activities: Involve children in group activities, such as sports, clubs, or community groups. These experiences provide opportunities to interact with other children, develop friendships, and practice social skills in a safe, structured environment.
Strengthen self-esteem and confidence: Help children develop good self-esteem and self-confidence. Recognize and praise their strengths and achievements, and provide them with opportunities to succeed in different areas. Good self-esteem allows them to relate to others in a more confident and positive way.

Remember that developing social skills is a gradual process and requires practice and ongoing support. Be patient and provide opportunities for children to practice these skills in different situations. Also, be sure to tailor strategies to your child's age and level of development, as social skills evolve over time.

Social Skills for children consult is provided by: Note. Consult only available in Spanish language for the moment.

Natalia Morales Pérez Psicóloga localizada en Colombia