Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy:
Helping Young Minds Thrive

Growing up comes with its challenges, and sometimes, kids and teens face struggles that affect their happiness and how they express themselves. That’s where Child and Adolescent Psychotherapy steps in, offering a supportive space for young minds to explore, understand, and flourish.

How It Works:

Exploring challenges through a psychoanalytic perspective helps uncover the reasons behind difficulties, offering relief and easing emotional worries for young individuals. As kids express and work through their feelings, it lessens the impact these emotions have on them, leading to better emotional regulation. Psychoanalysis in therapy assists in revealing a child’s true potential, making them feel more confident in facing the world. By understanding the hidden influences on a child’s emotions, psychoanalytic psychotherapy helps parents support their children’s emotional well-being more effectively.

Why It Matters:

We explore how young minds see themselves and the world around them. By understanding the meaning behind actions and behaviours, we empower children to communicate their feelings, reducing the need for challenging behaviours.

Our Approach:

Our psychotherapists are skilled in understanding non-verbal communication, whether expressed through play or words. We closely observe and respond, helping children make sense of their emotions and express them in words. It’s a beneficial way to support kids who find it challenging to verbalise their feelings.

In Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy, we’re here to nurture young minds, helping them feel secure and ready to embrace their place in the world.

Growing up can be tough, and sometimes, kids and their families need a bit of support along the way. If parents notice their child feeling stuck or struggling with everyday challenges, they might consider psychotherapy.

Why Kids Come to Therapy: Children might face difficulties due to family dynamics, school pressures, bullying, or loss. This can show up as changes in their behaviour, like becoming quiet or acting out. It can also affect their learning and how they engage in school.

How We Help: For younger kids (3-12 years), psychotherapy uses play as a way for them to express themselves. In sessions, they get to play with toys and use art materials. This helps them talk about what’s on their mind in a way that feels comfortable.

What Happens in Therapy: Child psychotherapy provides a safe space where kids can talk, draw, and play with a therapist. This helps them put their feelings into words instead of acting them out. They learn to understand how feelings affect their behaviour and well-being.

The Result: As kids work through their experiences, they start feeling less anxious. They become better at building relationships, discovering their uniqueness, and reaching their potential. It’s a journey of growth and well-being.

In Child Psychotherapy, we’re here to support kids on their path to understanding, resilience, and happiness.

Adolescence can be a stormy ride for both teens and parents. It’s a time of intense change – puberty, seeking independence, forming friendships, and facing the pressures of school and the future.

How Psychotherapy Helps: In Teen Psychotherapy, we tackle a range of difficulties – low mood, anxiety, stress, self-harm, addiction, and more. We understand the unique challenges teens face and provide a supportive space for them to express themselves.

The Psychotherapeutic Space: Similar to adult therapy but flexible for teens, we explore thoughts and feelings through mediums they connect with – be it art, music, or sports. It’s a reflective space where therapists help teens slow down, uncover hidden patterns, and connect with themselves differently.

Breaking Patterns for a New Journey: Through this process, teens break down repetitive patterns from childhood, easing troubling symptoms. It creates conditions for experiencing relationships and life differently, fostering growth and understanding.

In Teen Psychotherapy, we’re here to navigate the turbulence of adolescence together, fostering resilience and positive change.

Empowering Growth Through Psychotherapy at Bonsai Therapy

At Bonsai Therapy, our aim is to guide children and adolescents on a journey of self-discovery within the safety of a secure therapeutic relationship. In therapy, we provide a nurturing space for them to unravel and understand complex thoughts and emotions – whether they be sad, angry, painful, or confusing.

Understanding Unconscious Influences: Our skilled child psychotherapists are trained to work with children of all ages. Over time, we delve into the child’s unconscious, gaining insights into how it shapes current patterns of behaviour and relationships.

Behaviour as Communication: We believe that a child’s or adolescent’s behaviour communicates crucial information about their internal, emotional world. As a psychotherapist, my approach is to explore beneath the surface, revealing the root of symptoms, difficult emotions, and behaviours. This process enables children, adolescents, and their families to better understand themselves, fostering psychological growth and new beginnings.

Tailored Psychoanalytic Sessions: At Bonsai Therapy, we offer individual psychoanalytic psychotherapy sessions for children and adolescents. The duration of therapy depends on the complexity and severity of the issues presented. Goals may range from specific changes in behaviour to broader outcomes like reduced anxiety and improved self-esteem.

Consistent Therapeutic Environment: Our sessions occur on the same day, at the same time, in the same room each week for ongoing therapy. Consistency is a vital element, contributing to the development of a strong therapeutic relationship.

Inclusive Family Involvement: We value the involvement of parents/guardians in the therapeutic process. Regular meetings with our psychotherapist provide an opportunity to discuss the child’s progress and address any ongoing concerns. We recognise the importance of collaboration in supporting the child’s well-being throughout the treatment journey.

At Bonsai Therapy, we are dedicated to nurturing psychological growth and creating a supportive environment for children and adolescents to thrive.