Child Therapy at Harbour Therapy Clinic, Coffs Harbour
How Child Therapy at HTC Helps:
Children have a lot to learn as they grow and develop. In negotiating who they are and where they fit in the world, there are lots of things that can be challenging for a child. Sometimes they need extra help, and at Harbour Therapy Clinic in Coffs Harbour, our staff are extensively trained to help children in a range of areas.
Working from a trauma informed framework, our practitioners provide a safe, therapeutic space for children and young people to navigate identity, hope, belonging and connection. Since children communicate through play rather than words, creativity, sand/play therapy, art and story-telling are combined with talking therapies to explore meaning and build possibilities in the child’s world.
Play provides opportunity for children to assume the control they rarely experience in our adult driven world. The play process reveals the children’s internal emotional world: they are able to express what it feels like to be them, and process the often confusing and overwhelming feelings associated with trauma, childhood worries and frustrations. Even the most troubling problems can be explored in play therapy and lasting resolutions can be discovered, rehearsed, mastered and adapted into lifelong strategies. Importantly, it gives children a chance to enact endings that provide a sense of emotional resolution, safety and control.
Children tend to enjoy coming to play therapy at Harbour Therapy Clinic, as it creates a space of safety where they aren't rushed. They can create stories about their experience that give meaning to their inner world, and help them reach resolution about things that might be troubling them.
Play therapy can help when a child:
- Has memories and strong emotions following traumatic experiences (serious illness or hospitalisation; parental separation; exposure to violence and abuse).
- Struggles to manage big emotions, leading to difficulties concentrating or acting out at school.
- Feels anxious, scared or worried, even about small day-to-day things, or things they struggle to name.
- Feels a heavy sadness, seeming to have lost interest in things that previously brought them happiness.
- Seems overwhelmed, anxious or nervous in social situations.
- Has outbursts of anger, is uncooperative and defiant.
Working from a trauma informed framework, our practitioners provide a safe, therapeutic space for children and young people to navigate identity, hope, belonging and connection. Since children communicate through play rather than words, creativity, sand/play therapy, art and story-telling are combined with talking therapies to explore meaning and build possibilities in the child’s world.
Play provides opportunity for children to assume the control they rarely experience in our adult driven world. The play process reveals the children’s internal emotional world: they are able to express what it feels like to be them, and process the often confusing and overwhelming feelings associated with trauma, childhood worries and frustrations. Even the most troubling problems can be explored in play therapy and lasting resolutions can be discovered, rehearsed, mastered and adapted into lifelong strategies. Importantly, it gives children a chance to enact endings that provide a sense of emotional resolution, safety and control.
Children tend to enjoy coming to play therapy at Harbour Therapy Clinic, as it creates a space of safety where they aren't rushed. They can create stories about their experience that give meaning to their inner world, and help them reach resolution about things that might be troubling them.
Play therapy can help when a child:
- Has memories and strong emotions following traumatic experiences (serious illness or hospitalisation; parental separation; exposure to violence and abuse).
- Struggles to manage big emotions, leading to difficulties concentrating or acting out at school.
- Feels anxious, scared or worried, even about small day-to-day things, or things they struggle to name.
- Feels a heavy sadness, seeming to have lost interest in things that previously brought them happiness.
- Seems overwhelmed, anxious or nervous in social situations.
- Has outbursts of anger, is uncooperative and defiant.
Keeping you involved:
We understand that seeing your child struggle on their own can be painful, and that as a parent you want to find them the help they need. You also want to be involved in their care, as you are the most important person / people in the child's life.
Families have an important role in their child's therapy. The interplay between children's problems and their families is complex and unique to each family. Sometimes children's problems develop as their way of signaling there is something worrying, scary or wrong in their world. Other times the entire family becomes worried or conflicted because the child's problems are so unsettling. Whatever the situation, children and families recover faster when they work together.
Our Child Therapists communicate regularly with you to monitor the progress of the therapy, hear your views about how things are going at home or school, and discuss ideas that will fit well for your family. They will work in partnership with you to explore if, how and when to involve family members in the play therapy itself. Family members may feel nervous and self conscious when they think about participating in play therapy. Many of our parents and caregivers felt the same when they first came into a session with their child, but soon found themselves marvelling at their child's creative engagement and their own enjoyment of the process.
Contact us for more information or to book an appointment for Child Therapy.
Families have an important role in their child's therapy. The interplay between children's problems and their families is complex and unique to each family. Sometimes children's problems develop as their way of signaling there is something worrying, scary or wrong in their world. Other times the entire family becomes worried or conflicted because the child's problems are so unsettling. Whatever the situation, children and families recover faster when they work together.
Our Child Therapists communicate regularly with you to monitor the progress of the therapy, hear your views about how things are going at home or school, and discuss ideas that will fit well for your family. They will work in partnership with you to explore if, how and when to involve family members in the play therapy itself. Family members may feel nervous and self conscious when they think about participating in play therapy. Many of our parents and caregivers felt the same when they first came into a session with their child, but soon found themselves marvelling at their child's creative engagement and their own enjoyment of the process.
Contact us for more information or to book an appointment for Child Therapy.
Supporting Children After Separation:
Supporting children during and after family separation is an important responsibility for parents and caregivers.
We know through extensive research that ongoing conflict between parents can have significant impact on the emotional, psychological, physical and developmental wellbeing of children. Children can find it extremely difficult when caught in the middle of parental disputes. They are frequently overwhelmed by their feelings during separation, have difficulty understanding their emotions, and may not have the words or courage to be able to ask for help. Instead, their distress is often noticed through changes in behaviour. By noticing these changes, you can actively step in to reassure your children, and take positive steps to support them throughout the many changes ahead.
Most children find the separation of their parents a difficult and stressful time. Some need extra help and professional support, especially if they are persistently distressed, the situation doesn't improve over time, there is high conflict between the separating parents, or they don't feel able to voice their needs.
Your children will be less anxious if you are both able to agree on what is happening, provide age-appropriate explanations to them, and provide as much reassurance, consistency and reliability as possible.
We know that children can thrive and flourish after separation if:
- They are able to have a loving and meaningful relationship with both their parents and other family members.
- Both parents continue to have active involvement in their children's lives, and share responsibility for their child/ren.
- Parents keep conflict away from their children, and speak positively about each other when talking to their children.
- The children live in a safe environment, with no violence or abuse.
You may be concerned about how your child is coping with the separation, and believe they would benefit from therapeutic support to help adjust to change, process their feelings of grief and loss, deal with the 'big emotions' of fear, sadness and anger, and ensure they are not internalising blame for the separation. Child Counselling is a confidential and supportive therapeutic approach that can help your child in these circumstances.
As parents you may want to understand how your child is coping with the separation, so you can better support them with the change and be responsive to their needs and preferences in the decisions to come. A Child Focussed Consultation provides a safe and non-pressured space where your children can voice their worries and concerns, as well as their ideas about decisions and hopes for future arrangements.
If you are interested in Child Therapy post-separation, contact us here.
We know through extensive research that ongoing conflict between parents can have significant impact on the emotional, psychological, physical and developmental wellbeing of children. Children can find it extremely difficult when caught in the middle of parental disputes. They are frequently overwhelmed by their feelings during separation, have difficulty understanding their emotions, and may not have the words or courage to be able to ask for help. Instead, their distress is often noticed through changes in behaviour. By noticing these changes, you can actively step in to reassure your children, and take positive steps to support them throughout the many changes ahead.
Most children find the separation of their parents a difficult and stressful time. Some need extra help and professional support, especially if they are persistently distressed, the situation doesn't improve over time, there is high conflict between the separating parents, or they don't feel able to voice their needs.
Your children will be less anxious if you are both able to agree on what is happening, provide age-appropriate explanations to them, and provide as much reassurance, consistency and reliability as possible.
We know that children can thrive and flourish after separation if:
- They are able to have a loving and meaningful relationship with both their parents and other family members.
- Both parents continue to have active involvement in their children's lives, and share responsibility for their child/ren.
- Parents keep conflict away from their children, and speak positively about each other when talking to their children.
- The children live in a safe environment, with no violence or abuse.
You may be concerned about how your child is coping with the separation, and believe they would benefit from therapeutic support to help adjust to change, process their feelings of grief and loss, deal with the 'big emotions' of fear, sadness and anger, and ensure they are not internalising blame for the separation. Child Counselling is a confidential and supportive therapeutic approach that can help your child in these circumstances.
As parents you may want to understand how your child is coping with the separation, so you can better support them with the change and be responsive to their needs and preferences in the decisions to come. A Child Focussed Consultation provides a safe and non-pressured space where your children can voice their worries and concerns, as well as their ideas about decisions and hopes for future arrangements.
If you are interested in Child Therapy post-separation, contact us here.
Supporting Children Following Trauma:
There are many events that children face as they grow through life that can lead to an experience of trauma. Incidents such as major illness or surgery, motor vehicle accidents, death, domestic violence, sexual abuse and bullying can all carry lasting effects on a child’s emotional growth and development.
Supporting Children's Mental Health:
Children think, process information, and communicate differently from adults. They don't necessarily have the skills for dealing with 'big emotions' and can struggle with sadness, worry, depression, anxiety or anger. Seeking help early can help them learn valuable new skills and strategies to build wellbeing and resilience.
