What Child Therapy Needs in Toronto, Winnipeg, Niagara Falls, Mississauga, Milton, Montreal, Edmonton, Surrey, Langley etc....
A Conducive Environment
The child must always feel like they are in a safe space where they can share their most private thoughts and feelings. They should be comfortable that they won’t be judged or disrespected. The place must also be quiet, warm and inviting, and free from interruptions. Typically, it is expected to have comfortable seating for sessions that might take longer than a few hours. With this in mind, there should also be appropriate ventilation and heating. The lighting should just be right. Often, therapists decorate their offices to resemble a home in order to reduce feelings of dread or unease among patients.
Privacy and Confidentiality
It is important for child therapy clinics in Toronto to prioritize getting the message across that the child will always be given more than enough time and attention to deal with all issues that must be addressed. This message must be given directly to the child, and he or she must be aware that everything they talk about inside the room will remain between the therapist and the child in question. No information, sensitive or not, will be divulged to anybody – not even to his parents. Having this mutual trust and agreement will help the child share more openly and honestly throughout the therapy session.
Good Child Therapy in Toronto, Montreal, Winnipeg, Calgary, Langley, Edmonton, Vaughan…. Lets Them Feel Heard
Perhaps the best way to encourage a child to share his thoughts and feelings is by letting them know that the therapist is listening. This can be accomplished by the smallest gestures. Showing attentiveness and expressing the appropriate body language can go a long way. Facing the child and maintaining eye contact during conversation can prove to be very effective. Some therapists even sit beside the patient, if they feel that it will be helpful.
Interrupting a child while sharing is big NO. Subtly saying “Yes”, nodding along, and other gestures can make a young person know that they are heard. Another way to accomplish this is by repeating a short summary of what he has just said and clarifying his statement (“Did I get it right?”) is also beneficial.
Whichever manner is taken, it is CRUCIAL for the therapist to remain calm, relaxed, and unhurried during conversation.
Good Child Therapy in Toronto, Brandon, Surrey, Halifax, Brandon, Hamilton, Georgetown etc….. Gives Guidance, Not Advice
The goal of counseling is to provide guidance for children. Direct advice must NEVER be given. For example:
The therapist must not say, “You should do [this].”
Instead, he may ask, “What do you think is the best step to take next?”
This lets the child know that his life is entirely up to him. Guiding him along using right questioning can help him arrive at the healthiest solutions without being force-fed with the answers.
Child therapy professionals in Toronto need to be able to follow these basic requirements. Parents and guardians must make it a point to assess the capability of the facility to provide these needs before having their children go to therapy sessions.