A comprehensive psychological evaluation identifies the needs in therapy, highlights issues that need to be attended, recommend particular forms of intervention and offer guidance about potential outcomes of treatment. Psychological evaluation provides insight to the severity of the particular disturbance and the capacity for adequate functioning.
Psychotherapy is a form of treatment that involves therapeutic conversations and interactions between a therapist and a child or family. It can help children and families understand and resolve problems, modify behaviour and make positive changes in their lives. There are several types of psychotherapy that involve different approaches, techniques and interventions. At times, a combination of different psychotherapy approaches may be helpful
Different types of psychotherapy
- Behaviour Therapy (BT) or behaviour modification is an approach to psychotherapy based on learning theory which aims to treat psychopathology through techniques designed to reinforce desired and eliminate undesired behaviours
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Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) helps improve a child's mood, anxiety and behaviour by examining confused or distorted patterns of thinking. CBT helps teaching child that thoughts can cause feelings and moods which can influence the overall behaviour. During CBT, a child learns to identify harmful thought patterns. The therapist then helps the child replace this thinking with thoughts that result in more appropriate feelings and behaviours.
- Play Therapy involves the use of toys, blocks, dolls, puppets, drawings and games to help the child recognize, identify, and verbalize feelings. The psychologist observes how the child uses play materials and identifies themes or patterns to understand the child's problems. Through a combination of talk and play the child has an opportunity to better understand and manage their conflicts, feelings, and behaviour.
- Family Therapy focuses on helping the family function in more positive and constructive ways by exploring patterns of communication and providing support and education. Family therapy sessions can include the child or adolescent along with parents, siblings, and grandparents.
- Psychodynamic Psychotherapy emphasizes understanding the issues that motivate and influence a child's behaviour, thoughts, and feelings. It can help identify a child's typical behaviour patterns, defenses and responses to inner conflicts and struggles Psychodynamic psychotherapies are based on the assumption that a child's behaviour and feelings will improve once the inner struggles are brought to light.
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