Child consultation

Why see a psychologist for my child?

Your child seems unhappy and you don’t know how to help him, or what is bothering him? His behaviour or mood has changed, at home or at school? Just like adults, children also face challenges in their lives from time to time. Psychological problems in children can manifest themselves in various ways: a significant drop in grades, restlessness or withdrawal, anger, aggressive behaviour, tearfulness, fears or nightmares...to mention a few examples. It is important to share your concerns about your child with a professional; the emotional wellbeing of children is just as important as their physical health.

Very often, a few sessions can be of huge benefit.

Collaboration with parents is central to my work with children. I am here to listen to all your parental concerns, in a non-judgemental and friendly environment. My role is to support and help you, from a position of care and respect, when you feel you have reached your limits.

Child therapy

Psychological help provided to children is based above all on a trusting relationship between the psychologist and the child. My role is not to substitute for parents’ education, nor to give “miracle recipes”, but to offer the child a secure and safe place to allow for his self- accomplishment. Virginia Axline, an American psychologist, defines the therapeutic space as a one where the child can express himself freely.

In my work with young children, I use different materials (drawing, sand, puppets, play-dough, miniature animals, figurines...) to help the child explore and express his difficulties, worries and emotions. I accompany him in this process with a sensitive listening to his issues, offering him the possibility to process and make sense of past experiences, relationships, difficult events. As a psychologist, I am interested in the way each child thinks and sees the world, experiences others, and feels in different situations. The aim of the work is to develop self-awareness, in other words to enable the child to understand his emotional life.

Therapy can help children and young people to develop coping strategies, feel better about themselves and make choices that will increase their strength and resilience.

Initial meeting and further sessions

An initial meeting (generally called assessment) is arranged with the parents/carers on their own or with their child to discuss the nature of the difficulties and their impact on him and the family. During this time, I will ask you questions about your child, his early development, the family situation, school and friends, in order to gain a clear understanding of the difficulties being experienced. This first meeting is an opportunity for us to think about your child’s needs and how I might be able to help.

Each family and its circumstances are unique. It may be that a few meetings with parents/carers can be enough to feel like things are getting better. Sometimes, brief individual work or a longer period of therapy with the child or young person might be needed to bring change. At any point throughout the work, you may arrange separate meetings with me, if needed.

Child psychologist and therapist Toulouse - Saint-Lys, Fontenilles, Léguevin, Fonsorbes,

Rieumes, L'Isle Jourdain, Samatan, Pibrac.