Child and Adolescent Psychology Services
4th March 2024 - Current Waiting List Information
Our Child Waiting List is currently closed. We will update this message as soon as there is space to receive new child referrals.
Clinical Child Psychologists deal with a wide range of difficulties and issues in children and adolescents (teenagers).
Children and adolescents can experience emotional difficulties (e.g. depression, anxiety, anger), behavioural difficulties (e.g. oppositional behaviour, aggression), and developmental difficulties (e.g. learning disabilities, Autism Spectrum Disorders including Asperger’s syndrome). They may struggle to concentrate, be impulsive, or hyperactive. They may suffer with low self-esteem or body image issues. A teenager or young person may also be grieving the loss of a loved one, or they may be suffering from abuse or neglect.
These difficulties can cause great distress and interfere significantly with family life, and both academic and social functioning.
Assessment
When working with children and adolescents the aim is to reduce psychological distress and promote emotional well-being. The first steps towards these goals are (in consultation with family members) a psychological assessment of the child’s difficulties and the development of a plan to resolve these difficulties. This is the focus of the initial session with the child psychologist.
Assessment tends to consist of meeting face-to-face with children and care givers to talk these things over. We may also use questionnaires, and some diagnostic tests if needed.
We are able to work with difficulties such as:
- Depression;
- Anxiety (including generalised anxiety disorder, separation anxiety, phobias, panic, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD));
- Low confidence and self-esteem;
- Trauma (including symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD));
- Eating difficulties;
- Behavioural difficulties;
- Attachment problems.
With some children or teenagers, further assessment may be required including more formalised neuropsychological testing. This may be in cases
where we need to consider difficulties surrounding cognitive ability and academic achievements; attention and concentration problems; or memory
difficulties. Such assessment will include a cognitive assessment and other possible assessments that are considered necessary in light of
concerns raised. This can provide a good indication of a child’s intellectual abilities and can identify a child’s cognitive strengths
and weaknesses. An assessment of a child's IQ may constitute a part of this process. These tests can allow for the assessment of giftedness,
learning disabilities, and academic skills (reading, writing, numeracy).
If you have any concerns about Autism, or related difficulties, please see our specialist Autism Assessment Service page.
Please note that we are unable to provide diagnostic testing for Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD).
With all assessments a full report of the results will be provided including recommendations for home and school.
Sometimes, complications can arise when parents of a child being referred are no longer together. To help you with this, we have devised a document explaining issues around Parental Responsibility and how our service works with these issues.
Treatment and Therapy
Based on the thorough assessment of your child’s difficulties, we will discuss with you whether treatment, in the form of therapy, may be beneficial. Treatment could take any of the following formats: individual therapy with the child or teenager; joint work with parents/carers and the child; or in some cases with the parents/carers on their own as a means of helping to address the difficulties that the child has.
Our Child Psychologists offer the following interventions:
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT);
- Trauma-focused CBT;
- Eye Movement Densensitisation and Reprocessing (EMDR);
- Parent-child interaction therapy;
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT);
- Family interventions;
- Mindfulness techniques;
- Behaviour therapy.
We are currently unable to offer Family Therapy. if you are looking specifically for this, we suggest contacting the Association for Family Therapy: How to Find a Therapist - Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (aft.org.uk)
Please do not hesitate to contact us if you would like to discuss your child’s needs.