Child

Text Box: Children often behave in troubling ways that puzzle and worry their parents, teachers and friends. Sometimes their behavior is symptomatic of passing problems which have arisen in reaction to temporary stresses. But sometimes the troubles do not go away by themselves. When children have continuing difficulties, both child and parents may feel guilt, shame, and anger as they struggle to understand these problems. Why is this happening? What can they do about it? The goal of child intensive treatment is the modification of psychological roadblocks so children can achieve their full potential. Children may not be aware of the underlying issues that affect their feelings and behavior. They may have difficulties in school, trouble making friends, or problems at home. Some children suffer silently. Psychotherapy helps explore and overcome these problems. Some children have intense and dramatic emotional states. They may experience difficulties with teachers or in making friends. They may hunger for positive or negative social responses, may be clingy, hyperactive, or have temper tantrums. Sometimes these children have been diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder, separation anxiety disorder, or mood disorder. When other therapies and attempted solutions have failed to deliver deep, long-lasting change, intensive psychotherapy may be the best treatment. In the environment of treatment, the child has time and space to use words, play, or action in the relationship with the therapist to express problems which can then be understood and solved together. There is ample evidence, as well, that longer term psychotherapy is more effective for children. A landmark study carried out by Peter Fonagy, Ph.D., and Mary Target, Ph.D., in collaboration with the Yale University Child Study Center examined the records of nearly 800 children treated over four decades. The study found that intensive treatment was more effective than shorter therapies or a combination of therapy and drugs. Longer treatments were independently associated with greater improvement: 51 percent of the children studied improved if treated for one or two years, and 74 percent improved when treatment lasted at least three years. In the current managed healthcare environment usually only brief psychotherapy is authorized for children. This can be confusing for parents who want the best treatment for their child. This study, and future studies like it, will be key in helping parents as well as insurance companies understand that the investment in time and money for the treatment of psychological difficulties in children is well worth it. Adapted from American Psychoanalytic Association, “All about Psychoanalysis for Children and Adolescents: A guide for parents, teachers and healthcare professionals”