Are psychotherapies different for children and adolescents?
Psychotherapies can be adapted to the needs of children and adolescents, depending on the mental disorder. For example, the NIMH-funded Treatment of Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS) found that CBT, when combined with antidepressant medication, was the most effective treatment over the short term for teens with major depression. CBT by itself was also an effective treatment, especially over the long term. Studies have found that individual and group-based CBT are effective treatments for child and adolescent anxiety disorders. Other studies have found that IPT is an effective treatment for child and adolescent depression.
Psychosocial treatments that involve a child's parents and family also have been shown to be effective, especially for disruptive disorders such as conduct disorder or oppositional defiant disorder. Some effective treatments are designed to reduce the child's problem behaviors and improve parent-child interactions. Focusing on behavioral parent management training, parents are taught the skills they need to encourage and reward positive behaviors in their children. Similar training helps parents manage their child's attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). This approach, which has been shown to be effective, can be combined with approaches directed at children to help them learn problem-solving, anger management and social interaction skills.
Play therapy and emotion-identifying is a user-friendly way to approach a child suffering from school anxiety or trauma over a divorce-separation. Kids do not enjoy being put "on the spot" and have a difficult time pinpointing their emotions succinctly. Rapport with a therapist is critical for comfort level and minimizing anxiety during the session. Going slow and taking time to allow a child some familiarity in an office-setting, discussing feelings and difficult subjects, can be awkward and frightening. Often times a book can be very helpful in session, i..e "How I Feel Angry," as well drawing or completing face pictures.
Play therapy and emotion-identifying is a user-friendly way to approach a child suffering from school anxiety or trauma over a divorce-separation. Kids do not enjoy being put "on the spot" and have a difficult time pinpointing their emotions succinctly. Rapport with a therapist is critical for comfort level and minimizing anxiety during the session. Going slow and taking time to allow a child some familiarity in an office-setting, discussing feelings and difficult subjects, can be awkward and frightening. Often times a book can be very helpful in session, i..e "How I Feel Angry," as well drawing or completing face pictures.
