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Treatment for Children

Because kids do not function on the same cognitive level as adults, therapy must be on a level that children understand. One of the frequently used types of therapy with children is play therapy. In play therapy, children use dolls or other toys to help convey what is happening to them and how they feel. It is sometimes easier for children to this in the third person. Another form of therapy used with children is expressive therapy. Children may not have the words to say, "I'm sad," or "I'm mad." However, kids may be able to draw their feelings and situations that are going on in school or in their families. One of the other goals of therapy is to get children to be able to identify their feelings. Often this is done through the use of smiley faces. Kids can often point to a face that expresses their emotion easier than naming the feeling itself. The more comfortable kids are with doing this exercise, the easier it is for them to talk about their feelings. Parent training is another way to work with children through working with their parents and their parenting skills. If parents change the way they react and respond to things, the child may change his/her behavior as a result. Family therapy is another means of helping children by working with their family as a whole. In addition, some neuroleptic medications may be used with kids. Others do not have enough research to establish their safety. One of the alternatives in working with kids with severe behavioral problems is residential treatment. Here the child is supervised twenty-four hours and has easy access to trained staff and therapists.

 

 


 
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