How to Explain Mental Health Services to Children

Figuring out how to explain mental health services to children does not have to be complicated, as long as you know what child therapy is really about yourself. Donald Winnicott, a pediatrician and writer practicing from the 1940's to the 1970's, believed that kids can develop a "false self" to meet the expectations of adults. He theorized that these false selves can take over who a person really is, resulting in emotional harm. The only way a child can become his "true self" is through situations, such as therapy, in which he can express his true individuality with no fear of judgement. Explaining this to children will help gain their cooperation with the mental health services.

Instructions

Finding a Therapist

• 1

  Check out credentials, references and trust your gut instincts when you interview psychologists that specialize in children and adolescents. Go yourself on these initials meet-ups, without your child, in order to have them help you further learn how to explain mental health services to children.

• 2

  Ask as many questions as needed about the therapy sessions that they conduct to ensure that you completely understand and agree with their theories and practices before they start. Do not trust your own personal experiences with therapy as, according to therapist Robin Walker, a therapist for children and adolescents focuses sessions differently than those for adults do.

• 3

  Take your child to meet him and gauge his comfort level with the psychologist as well. Though it takes some kids to longer warm up to new people than others, you should feel confident in that your child's personality will click with that of the therapist.

Preparing Your Child

• 4

  Talk frankly with your child about what a therapist is and why he is going to see him. If there is a specific incident that has warranted you seeking out help for, say "Dr. So & So is going to help you with that." Simple tell a younger child "I feel that you need a friend to talk to about things, and Dr. So & So specializes in being the best of friends to little kids."

• 5

  Tell your child, in simple terms, what to expect from the sessions. Dr. Walker says child therapy sessions are more "forward oriented" to help the youngster figure out who he is now and what he is going to be, rather than spending time on the past (as often happens in adult psychology). He says the time spent together is often "non-verbal," with the dialogue between patient and doctor happening more through activities and play.

• 6

  Let your child be the guide on how much detail to go into. When figuring out how to explain mental health services to children, more often than not, kids are satisfied with the simple answers of "you will have fun and play with Dr. So & So and you can tell him anything you want to tell him, no matter what it is." The rest of it they will learn for themselves as they go.