Cognitive Kids
In recent years there has been an increase into developing various cognitive behavioural therapy research, models and programmes for children and young people. Many of these have been incorporated into clinical guidelines and policies. Research has demonstrated that individual cognitive behaviour therapy is appropriate from the age 8 onwards. For younger children behavioural, parental and familial interventions are more appropriate.
I have completed a child and adolescent post graduate diploma at the Institute of Psychiatry in London, which taught evidence based, developmentally appropriate, cognitive behaviour therapy programmes for children and adolescents.
I work within the NHS as a cognitive behaviour therapist.
The programmes incorporate a cognitive behavioural assessment of the difficulties experienced by the young person, an informal assessment of the young person’s cognitive capacity to undertake CBT and it can also include rating scales, involvement of the family (in varying capacities) and school liaison(if required).
All of the resources used within cognitive behaviour therapy programmes are developmentally appropriate for various age ranges.
Parents are welcome to sit in for the whole session or receive feedback/an overview at the end of the session depending on the age/wishes of the young person.
Consent from the young person (if over 13) will be sort. Consent
from the parent with parental responsibility will be sought for the young
person under 13. |
Cognitive behavioural therapy for children and adolescents includes an assessment of mental health and a cognitive behaviour assessment. Therapy focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. Cognitive and behavioural strategies are used to challenge ways of thinking and levels of activity. Coping strategies for managing depression are developed with the young person, and their family.
Various types of anxiety are very common within children and young people; these include school refusal, generalised anxiety, separation anxiety, social phobia, agoraphobia, blood and injury phobia and animal phobia. A cognitive behavioural therapy programme includes investigating feelings, challenging thoughts and changing behaviours. Practical coping strategies for panic attack control, relaxation and diaphragmatic breathing are also part of the programme. Family coping strategies are also explained.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for obsessive compulsive disorder includes a thorough assessment of difficulties and cognitive behavioural assessment of difficulties. Treatment includes health education and anxiety management for the young person and their family and a developmentally appropriate, collaborative exposure programme. Relapse prevention is an integral component of the programme.
Cognitive behavioural therapy for bulimia includes and physical and psychological assessment and a cognitive behavioural therapy programme that includes examining the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour; development and maintenance of bulimia, self esteem, body image work and relapse prevention.
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A young person’s self esteem can be affected through many different life experiences – i.e. bullying. A cognitive behavioural therapy programme can explore the link between experience, thoughts, feelings and behaviour. The programme will challenge some of the negative thinking patterns, feelings and behaviour that a young person has developed and explore more positive ways of coping. Self esteem work is often incorporated into CBT or can be a stand alone issue.
A cognitive behavioural programme includes working with the young person on impulse control thoughts, self esteem issues and working with the family and school liaison.
Family work identifies the link with thoughts, feelings and a behaviour from a family perspective. It links the experiences that all members of a family have had, and how they contribute to the family dynamic.
There are many reasons for school refusal. A cognitive behavioural assessment of difficulties within the school system is followed by an individualised cognitive behavioural therapy programme and school liaison.
A cognitive behavioral therapy assessment of parenting issues is followed by an individualised parenting course, based on principles of cognitive behavior therapy.
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