What Sort of Difficulties will be Seen?

The practice offers assessment and treatment of children and families where a child is experiencing emotional, behavioural or developmental difficulties.  Support and advice is also available to parents.  Generally, children or young people presenting with severe or complex mental health difficulties that require the intervention of a number of professionals working together will only be seen with the involvement of appropriate Associates in order that a comprehensive assessment and treatment package can be provided. 

1. Emotional and Behavioural Difficulties and Mental Health Problems
We all have difficulties from time to time.  Children and young people are no exception and sometimes these difficulties can seem insurmountable.  Talking to people can help, but sometimes it is difficult to talk to the people closest to you. 
If the difficulties begin to affect everyday life and it seems that nobody can find a way forward it may help to talk it through with a Child Clinical Psychologist.  The sorts of difficulties that can be helped include:

• Worries, fears and anxieties - including anxieties about attending school.
• Depression, sadness and low mood.
• More extreme fears, phobias and habits including Obsessive Compulsive Disorder.
• Lack of confidence and poor self-esteem.
• Eating and feeding difficulties and Eating Disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia.
• Difficulties with friendships and relationships.
• Problems with managing moods such as anger and aggressiveness.
• Problems that develop following bereavement.
• Adjustment to changed family circumstances including parental separation and divorce.
• Difficulties that result from bullying, accidents, illnesses or other traumas including Post Traumatic Stress Disorder.

Talking things over with a Child Clinical Psychologist can help children and their families to understand what has led up to their difficulties and can support them in their search for solutions.  Specific treatments will be used to help a child and his or her family to change and recover.

2. Developmental Difficulties
In addition to the treatment of emotional and behavioural problems in children and young people the practice also offers an assessment and intervention service for children with a range of developmental difficulties including:

• Concerns about overall development which may show themselves in school related or social difficulties.
• Concerns about specific problems with learning.
• The assessment and management of Autistic Spectrum Disorders.
• The interplay between emotional and developmental difficulties.

The management of developmental difficulties will always involve offering advice and support to parents and may also involve consultation to and support of a child’s school.

3. Parenting and Family Difficulties
The transition to parenthood is an enormous step and the wealth of self-help books and television programmes about how to manage children is proof that babies do not come with manuals!  The sorts of difficulties that can be helped include:

• The management of sleeping difficulties – including settling and staying asleep.
• Toilet training and bed wetting.
• Feeding difficulties including faddiness.
• The management of general behaviour and temper tantrums.
• Difficulties in coping with adolescent behaviour.
• Parental stress!

There may be times when it is difficult to work out whether you are seeking help for an emotional problem, a developmental problem, or whether the whole situation just needs managing better!  That is fine – it is our job to help you to find out and advise you accordingly!

What Services are on Offer in the Child Service? Read more

Child Services at High View. Read more