Children’s Counselling

Equipping children with the ability to self-regulate for them to be able to effectively handle any challenges that come their way that mess with their mental health is what we do through Children’s Counselling.

Growing up is not as easy as it sounds – it can get confusing, frustrating and intimidating at times for both the parent and the child. Children’s early experiences set the foundation for lifelong learning, behaviour and health, deeply affecting their future physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. The experiences that children have during their childhood mould their brains and influence their capacity to learn, get along with others, and respond to daily stresses and challenges. 

Some of the most character-influencing changes and experiences take place during childhood. We often do not realise it but children encounter just as many life challenges as adults. However, children are less equipped with the necessary skills and experience to handle these challenges effectively and positively. They may not be able to self-regulate just as well as us, and this may take a toll on their mental health, especially if they are not taught healthy coping mechanisms. 

Some Issues Faced by Children

Children’s worldview varies significantly from that of adults, and the scale of their struggles can cause disproportionate distress. Some of the problems that children may encounter include: 

• Parents going through a divorce or separation
• Death of a loved one 
• Exposure to traumatic events
• Abuse or neglect
• Relocation
• Mental illness
• Bullying
• Friendship problems
• Low self-esteem and confidence
• Addiction or substance abuse
• Anger management

Children cope with challenges and express their emotions far differently from adults. It is easy for parents and caregivers to mistake their children’s calls for help as throwing tantrums. We often just think that they are acting out to get attention. There are many symptoms that a child might display indicating that they may be struggling.  Some of these symptoms may include:

• Avoidance behaviour
• Changes in appetite
• Displaying poor academic performance
• Engaging in self-harming behaviours
• Disturbances in sleep patterns including insomnia or hypersomnia
• Loss of interest in activities (including those which were once pleasurable)
• Having uncontrollable emotions or emotional outbursts

All children express their emotions differently. Parents and caregivers play an important role in being the first people to notice these changes and seek the necessary help for their children. 

How Children’s Counselling Works

Children’s counselling provides children with a safe and supportive space to express their thoughts and emotions freely and healthily. In this way, counselling for children provides children with endless opportunities to explore their personal identities and beliefs. Being able to freely express their thoughts and emotions can also help children to understand and process their experiences better, and learn from them. 

At Incontact, our therapists aim to identify your child’s strengths and weaknesses to explore healthy and effective coping mechanisms that can help them overcome life’s adversities. By building a strong and trusted bond with your child, our therapists can support and guide your child to navigate through childhood and into adolescence. Our counsellors have vast experience in working with children, and they will be able to build on your child’s strengths to boost their confidence and self-esteem in overcoming life’s adversities.

If you feel like your child is struggling and needs professional help, consult a mental health professional who can help you and your child. Book an appointment with us for either an online or in-person counselling session. Our therapists are here to provide you and your child with the support that you may need and employ creative methods to help your child. 

Additional Services

In addition to providing children’s counselling services, you may also find the following services that we provide at Incontact beneficial for you or your family: 

• Adolescent’s Counselling

Adolescence‌ ‌is‌ ‌a‌ ‌difficult‌ ‌time‌ ‌for‌ ‌many.‌ Especially during adolescence, change is the only constant – from physiological to psychological changes. This gives rise to much confusion and frustration among youths, especially so for those who have difficulty adapting to change. With adolescent’s counselling, our experienced therapists can provide guidance and support to adolescents that can help them find themselves and understand their thoughts, feelings and behaviours better. 

• Family Counselling

Family is a crucial source of support, security and guidance. Problems in the family can affect various aspects of all family members’ lives, and disrupt the family’s mental health and functioning. At Incontact, our family psychotherapists work with families to help break communication barriers – the root cause of conflicts. We aim to proactively heal and strengthen the relationship between family members, improve communication and conflict management to create a better home environment for your family. 

• Couples Counselling

It is normal for couples to encounter numerous obstacles throughout their relationship. Relationships are not smooth sailing all the time. Instability in the relationship may not always only affect you and your partner, but your children as well. Extensively trained in the Gottman method, a proven and tested approach to couples therapy, our psychotherapists can help you and your partner work through any resentments and manage conflicts, and eventually reignite the respect and admiration that the two of you had for each other.