If you're familiar with Maslow's hierarchy of needs, you already understand the basic psychological principal that every person has basic needs. As we grow and develop and meet those basic needs, our needs become more complex. However, we have to feel completely secure at each level in order to progress to the next one. At any moment though, the challenges of life can knock us off our perch, sending us down the pyramid, scrambling to regain our footing.
Divorce and separation challenge our higher psychological needs (like feelings of accomplishment, belonging and love), and force us back to addressing needs of safety and security.
If you are parent operating from this place on the pyramid, and struggling to deal with your own emotional needs, it is exponentially difficult to meet the needs of your children, who are also experiencing loss, grief, confusion and anger.
Creative Counseling for Children
Counseling can provide a safe space for your child to process what they are going through, as well as give them a chance to talk to someone other than their parents.
Counseling can provide a safe space for your child to process what they are going through, as well as give them a chance to talk to someone other than their parents.
What kind of therapy is effective for children?
Any type of therapy that incorporates creative ways for you child to expression him/herself can be very effective. Emotional awareness and the language to express feelings can be difficult for children, so using mediums like art, music, and play, allows a child to express him/herself and the therapist to observe and respond in a fun, interactive and relatable way.
How Do I Talk to My Child About His or Her Therapy Session?
It is important to not pressure your child to talk about their sessions. Therapists will talk with parents about anything that takes place in the session relating to the child’s safety or any other important information. Remember that your child is given privacy during his or her sessions in order to allow for self-expression. It is important to remember that progress takes time and children must be allowed to work at their own pace in order to build a trusting therapeutic relationship.