Child Psychology Services at Creative Sky Psychology

Do Parents Attend Therapy Sessions With Their Child?

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At Creative Sky Psychology, every child and family benefits from a tailored approach. Children that are comfortable talking with a Child Psychologist often don't require parents attending the session. Some children, however, find having a parent in the room can ease their anxiety. Children often feel comfortable attending therapy sessions alone very soon into the first session. In therapy, children have fun while they learn and are often quickly at ease. Another approach we commonly use at Creative Sky with young children is having a parent attend the first or last 10 minutes of the session. This allows us to teach the tools and strategies to parents which can then be used in the home. 

 

Does My Child Need To See A Psychologist?

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Contrary to popular belief, children do not need to have serious issues or struggles to see a Child Psychologist. A Child Psychologist can increase overall wellness by helping children develop awareness and the skills to thrive. This can be in developing emotional literacy, increasing coping skills, and building strengths and confidence. Parents may also book their own sessions before issues arise to learn about parenting strategies and how to increase their awareness of development and parenting practices. 

 

 A child will certainly benefit from seeing a Psychologist when they have struggles at home, school, or in the community. A Psychologist will ask about the impact an issue is having on your child’s functioning and well-being. It is best to seek help sooner than later. Often difficulties can become internalized, causing additional issues. This is often the case with social, emotional, or academic issues. When left untreated, children can develop anxiety or depression, and may experience long term difficulties.  

 

Common Signs of Mental Health Issues Or Psychological Distress

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Children express mental health issues and distress in various ways. An experienced Child Psychologist knows what to look for. Often in children “behavioral” issues may arise. These behaviors can be misconstrued as “bad" or "oppositional”. Complaints such as headaches or stomach aches are also very common. Your child may experience difficulties with bedtime or experience nightmares. Kids experiencing psychological issues may also have changing sleep patterns. They may start avoiding friends or refuse to go to school. This can be very worrisome for parents and cause disruption to home life. It can also be difficult to tease out the difference between typical development and problematic issues. When your child is not thriving, an experienced Child Psychologist can help get things back on track. A child’s behavior is something observable, it is the “viewable” tip of the iceberg. At Creative Sky Psychology, we look underneath the iceberg and target therapy in this area causing the most impact. We help children learn to solve problems and deal with issues as they arise, in order to develop long term resiliency and independence. Children at Creative Sky Psychology learn coping skills, sensory regulation strategies, emotion regulation tools, social skills, and problem-solving strategies. The goal isn't to eliminate problems, rather to help children navigate challenges in a way that allows them to learn, grow, and thrive. 

 

20 Signs Your Child may be Experiencing Mental Health Issues

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1. Difficulties with sleeping, either too much or too little 

2. Nightmares

3. Is very sensitive

4. Avoiding friends and/or social situations

5. Refusing to go to school

6. Bullied at school or in their peer group

7. Your child doesn't have friends

8. A lack of joy and/or ongoing sadness

9. Persistent anger

10. Your teen no longer talks home or school

11. Refusing to eat

12.  Reoccurring headaches

13.  Persistent stomach aches 

14.  Exhibiting behaviour that is harmful to self or others

15.  They have suicidal thoughts

16.  Struggling with concentration

17.  Becoming frustrated easily

18.  Out of control behaviour or meltdowns

19.  They are excessively worried or fearful

20.  Shaking or sweating in certain situations

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How Do I Tell My Child They are Going To A Psychologist?

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Most children are not opposed to going to a Psychologist. Your child will benefit from being prepared about what will be discussed and what to expect during their initial visit to a Psychologist. Talk to your child when they are calm and let them know they are going to a safe place where they are going to learn about themselves.  Similar to the first day of school, going to see a Psychologist for the first time can be an anxiety provoking situation.  Every child is different and if this is a concern reach out to the Child Psychologist prior to the session to discuss a plan as to how to approach this.

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Child Psychology Services and Creative Sky Psychology

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Child Psychology is an excellent tool used to gain insight into the underlying cause of your child’s struggles. We provide strength-based coping strategies to help your child to grow and thrive. A Child Psychologist can be very effective with supporting children to build strategies and tools that are unique to their challenges. As children develop tools and strategies they learn to manage such challenges, as well as build resiliency and coping strategies for future areas of difficulty. Creative Sky Psychology offers specialized Child Psychology services located in Calgary, Alberta. We have dedicated Child Psychologists for preschoolers, children, pre-teens, teens, and parents. Our Assessment Psychologists provide both Clinical and Psycho-Educational assessments when needed. We support families and parents and provide wholistic care for your child. Please call for an initial consultation or book online.