What is a therapist?
A therapist is a person that people go to for help with their feelings. Just like children go to a dentist for help to care for their teeth, and a doctor if they have hurt their leg, sometimes they go to see a therapist to help with their inside feelings.
What kind of feelings?
Children come to therapy for loads of reasons.
Sometimes they have lots of fiery anger inside, sometimes they have sad, hurt feelings or shaky, worried feelings - sometimes they don't know what they feel, because it's all muddled up inside!
Therapy is a way of working out all these feelings together, so that you can slowly start to feel better inside.
Do I have to sit and talk about my problems then?
No. It can be really hard to explain feelings, so sometimes children prefer to show how they feel or what has happened through play, music and drawing.
In the room there are lots of things for you to use. As well as the art materials, there are also small toys and figures that you can use to create a "small world" in a box of sand- this can be used like a film set to tell stories in.
What if I'm no good at art and things?
In therapy there's no need to be good at anything. I can't draw very well either! We just use play and art stuff as another way to talk as well as words.
Do you keep what I tell you a secret?
I can keep whatever you tell me private, unless I need to talk to someone else to help keep you (or another person) safe. I would try to tell you first if I needed to do that.
How often do I come to therapy? How long for?
Therapy is normally once a week, on the same day, at the same time, in the same room. The sessions last for 50 minutes.
We might meet each week for a few weeks, or a bit longer- it depends what will be most helpful for you.
How will it help?
You might feel less worried all the time, feel happier with who you are, get on better with other people, get in less trouble at school- all sorts of things can start to change!
Therapy can be a slow process, especially when lots of big things have happened in your life. But gradually, you will hopefully start to find yourself feeling better inside.
Sometimes, of course, you will still have down days. But therapy can help you begin to bounce back more easily.