Is your child crying more frequently or having more temper tantrums or behavioural problems at school? Is their anger or aggression increasing? Do they have a low frustration tolerance or seem more irritable? Are they becoming more withdrawn from peers or clingy to you? Is your child experiencing difficulty getting along well with their peers? Is it taking you longer to get them to leave for school in the morning? Is it taking longer to put them to bed at night or are they having difficulties falling or staying asleep? Do they have panic attacks?
These symptoms can be signs of anxiety in children.
Play therapy is a way for children to work through anxiety.
At Introspect Psychological we have extensive training in play therapy techniques and sand play. We can get two main things out of your child playing through their anxiety with us.
- We can interpret the play themes and then provide concrete steps you can take with your child at home and give you specific tools for your toolkit to help with the way anxiety is presenting for your child. We can also provide concrete tools for others to use with your child at school where intervening early is key. We also work alongside your child’s pediatrician and/or psychiatrist when medication is warranted.
- Specific interventions in playing with your child will help to guide them towards their own goals and gaining of skills to fight anxiety.
Not treating anxiety early can lead to poor school performance, less developed social skills and more vulnerability to substance use/abuse.
We will help you determine if your child is experiencing normal anxiety due to a loss or transition or whether they have an anxiety disorder. Anxiety tends to co-occur with other disorders such as Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Panic Disorder, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, ADHD, and depression.
When you bring your child to Introspect Psychological, we ensure they feel no stigma at treating their mental health. Children are excited to come back again as activities in therapy are tailored to them specifically. We follow your child’s lead and use many modalities to get at the same issues. We will update you on your child’s progress, so you are in the loop and help you to help them outside of therapy.