Cognitive Behavioural Therapy CBT for Children in York, Manchester & online
What is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy?
For young people Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is a talking therapy that can help to change the way your child or young person thinks and behaves. For young children we integrate CBT with play-based approaches so that we can meet their personal needs.
CBT works on the idea that feelings, thoughts and behaviours are all linked together and have an impact on each other.
Helping your child or young person to overcome their present, overwhelming problems, CBT breaks them down into smaller, more manageable parts which can be dealt with in a more positive, practical way. This is through changing the way they think and behave, with a focus on the present and future, rather than on the past.
It helps to understand how certain thoughts or feelings contribute to negative patterns of behaviour, and how to can make meaningful changes to one of these, which will improve your young person’s wellbeing when practised in their daily life.
CBT can teach you and your child or young person useful and practical strategies that can be used in everyday life, even after the treatment has finished.
What do we use Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for?
CBT provides a useful way for children and young people to manage symptoms of anxiety, panic attacks and low mood, as well as a range of issues relating to their wellbeing. Your child doesn’t need to have a diagnosed mental health condition to benefit from CBT, CBT can help children learn to control a range of behaviours, such as tantrums, by replacing negative reactions with new coping mechanisms.
This approach also helps children and young people who may have developed unhelpful or negative thinking patterns.
CBT enables your child or young person to form more constructive ways of thinking and a more positive mindset. CBT includes learning breathing and relaxation techniques to help your child or young person manage difficult emotions and to put themselves at ease, as well as education about thoughts and feelings.
When we provide CBT for children and young people we often meet with you, or another family member or carer, to help them you about how you can support your child with CBT techniques.
What is a Cognitive Behavioural Therapy session like?
CBT offers a great amount of structure for children and young people. Your child and their therapist will agree a focus for each session and will work together through an evidenced-based programme of understanding and addressing difficulties. Your child and their therapist will then discuss difficulties or issues your child is worrying about or facing, and their therapist will help to set realistic goals for your child to achieve in a supportive environment and timeframe. There will be interactive worksheets and tasks for your child to complete in between sessions, helping them to reflect on their goals in between sessions.
We find it helpful to meet with you, or another family member to help set realistic goals and help parents think about how to offer support at home.
We understand seeking therapy can be daunting for both you and your child and that taking the first step can be hard. We have a team of professional and friendly child therapists who can work together with you and your child to design a bespoke and flexible treatment which works best for them. Our children’s therapy services are available for children and teenagers aged 5 to 17, at our clinics in York, Manchester and online.
Please get in touch using the form below to find out more about how we can help.