Strange behaviour in a child raises doubts among parents and family members about the need for counselling from a child psychologist. When the intervention of an external expert is needed, it is first of all important not to worry and to rely on the skills of those who deal with child psychology to solve attitudes that hide a discomfort in the child.
When should I go to a child psychologist and what are the behaviours that show psychological discomfort for which the intervention of an expert is necessary?
First of all, it should be stressed that asking for the help of a child psychologist should not frighten you and that when you perceive a problem in a child it is good to intervene immediately and not let the situation get worse.
There are some behaviors or delays in development that clearly show a psychological discomfort in the child: here are what they are and when it is advisable to rely on a child psychologist and seek advice from an expert.
Child psychologist: when is it necessary?
Very often it is not easy to recognize that a child, especially when it comes to his or her own child, needs the advice of a child psychologist. When do you need expert advice?
There are some attitudes and problems for which the advice of a child psychologist is needed to find the right solution. To understand when it is necessary to take a child to the child psychologist, it is important to remember that it is only the paediatrician who can help to understand whether it is a physical and temporary discomfort or a problem of a psychological nature.
The most common situations for which the intervention of a child psychologist is required are behavioural in nature or concern developmental problems.
It is necessary to go to the child psychologist when a child suddenly changes his or her attitude, goes from a state of good humour to moments of unjustified anger. Even cases of lack of appetite, fatigue or sleep problems can be a symptom of deeper discomfort.
Some symptoms not to be overlooked to understand when a child psychologist is needed
Before seeing what are some of the symptoms that show the need for the child to have an expert in child psychology, we reiterate once again that it is only by consulting with your paediatrician that you can determine whether these are problems for which you need the advice of a child psychologist or other medical specialists.
Children up to the age of 10 are subject to continuous physical and social changes. This can lead to clashes, discomfort and problems that cannot always be solved independently.
Even the youngest children can experience discomforts for which the help of a child psychologist is needed: difficulty in sleeping, fatigue, frequent nightmares and lack of appetite are just some of the typical attitudes that show a problem of a deep nature.
To understand when a child needs the help of a child psychologist, it is also good to make a first "self-diagnosis": have there been family stresses that may have involved the child? In cases of separation, divorce or mourning, children do not always seem to show their discomfort and malaise, but they do so with attitudes and behaviours that are apparently harmless.
Sudden anger or attention disorders, excessive hyperactivity: these are some of the cases in which it is advisable to consult a child psychologist. Eating disorders, food rejection or bulimia symptoms should also not be underestimated.
What a child psychologist does?
Taking a child to the psychologist is for many, still today, seen as a shame and almost as a violence. Especially when it comes to your child, not being able to solve a problem on your own and a discomfort is seen almost as a "defeat".
Obviously this is not the case, and letting a child talk to an external person who deals with child psychology can sometimes be more useful than the thousand efforts and attempts of a parent.
What does a child psychologist do and what are the therapies adopted with younger patients? Child psychology is a medical discipline that requires special attention, as well as academic preparation.
A child psychologist will first meet and talk with the child's parents or caregivers to try and reconstruct family history. Therapies can take place in the presence of one of the parents or not, this of course depending on the type of problem and the age of the child.
During the therapies he will first try to put the child at ease; he will be proposed to draw, play role-playing games or model objects. Likewise, a child psychologist may ask to meet the parents individually or the family for a comparison and to analyze the child's progress.
Choosing to have a child helped by a child psychologist is anything but traumatic and, in the case of two or more children, it is not always possible to get the child's help.