Lucy Bean Child & Adolescent Psychotherapy

07/09/2022

As we approach the holidays, children and young people may have mixed feelings about the holidays. We spoke to Child and Adolescent Psychotherapist Rachel Melville Thomas about why it can be tricky, and how parents can support children and young people:  Why is the end of the school year emotion...

31/12/2021

December

‘The end of a thing
is never the end,
something is always
being born like
a year or a baby.’

‘I don’t understand,’
Everett Anderson says.
‘I don’t understand where
the whole thing’s at.’

‘It’s just about Love,’
his Mama smiles.
‘It’s all about Love and
you know about that.’

Lucille Clifton

10/12/2021

With new restrictions coming in, and with the changes that may have taken place over the last year, it is important to see things from a child’s point of view whilst thinking about how we can best support them during the festive period.

Whether you celebrate Christmas itself or not, the holiday period is approaching when families often get together. As new concerns emerge again about COVID-19 we think about how to support children and young people during this time. Last December many families’ Christmas plans were cancelled and c...

21/04/2021

Child psychotherapists work as part of multi-disciplinary teams in the NHS & other public services to assess and treat infants, children and young people with severe and complex mental health problems and work with their families, carers and networks.
https://childpsychotherapy.org.uk/about-us/what-child-and-adolescent-psychotherapy

01/02/2021

Important to remember...

10/05/2020

At this time of uncertainty during the lockdown period, one of your child’s biggest fears is likely to be that they could become a forgotten child. You may have noticed that they are shouting louder, asking for more, expressing a feeling that nothing feels right or good enough.

Children around the world are waiting for their routine to return, whether it be going to school, nursery or visiting family. Their routine as they knew it suddenly stopped and now they are left wondering if it will be forgotten altogether. We cannot give them an understanding of time for when things might go back to some kind of normal.

At this time you might need to negotiate more with your children. This is important so that young people are able to make some choices, to have some control at the point where things feel very much out of their control. Their world has been turned upside down and that was not their choice.

Remember to ask your child how they feel. This is important to validate their feelings and to support their sense of self whilst their reality as they knew it was met with sudden loss. You can help them to put into words how confusing everything feels at the moment. Talk to them about your own feelings of confusion, it will help them to feel less isolated with the feeling.

It might feel like your children are pushing you away at the moment, pushing the boundaries and saying hurtful things while they try to process the confusion and anxiety around the situation. Remember that you are their only constant presence, their only certainty at this time of uncertainty. Focus on time to connect where possible. Stay attuned, taking time to really listen to the layers of their communications. For children to feel understood and not forgotten at this time will support their long term mental health.

Lucy Bean
Child & Adolescent Psychoanalytic Psychotherapist