Since COVID-19, mental health difficulties in children have increased by 35% in the UK, and there is a shortage of child psychologists and therapists. Wait times for therapy are 6-24 months for Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS). Devastatingly, it is often the same wait time for children who are high risk.
In-person therapy for a child can be hard to access. Online techniques and solutions for child therapy, as well as indirect consultations with parents and school teachers are effective and have many benefits. Children and families can also work with an online practitioner, as a wait list intervention.
In this workshop we present a number of techniques you can use online; as well as models of therapy delivery drawing on systemic, cognitive-behavioural, behavioural, solution-focused, integrative, narrative approaches and more.
These adapted therapy techniques and approaches are designed to be as inclusive as possible. These tools are evidence-based and can be effective for working online with a range of children under 12 and their families; including children with additional needs, ADHD, ASD, some cognitive impairments and learning disabilities.
The model works for families in the post-natal period, families living in remote areas or children with physical disabilities, where travel would otherwise prove challenging.
It’s recommended that an in-person healthcare support system be in place, in parallel, alongside the online intervention. This is to mitigate against risk and safeguarding issues. This can be CAMHS, GP, social worker, paediatric team or health visitor, to name a few services.
Learning Objective Participants Can Expect From This Event:
- To troubleshoot causes of child disengagement online; and how to engage parents in helpful ways with different roles in the therapeutic process, to improve child engagement and benefits from therapy.
- To have a number of solutions and tools available via Zoom to engage under 12s and their families.
- To have a number of techniques and strategies to use drawing on CBT, integrative, systemic, behavioural, narrative, solution-focused and other therapies adapted for children and families online.
Who is This Workshop Appropriate For?
This workshop is appropriate for any psychologist, counsellor, therapist, psychotherapist, or trainee who is considering developing their skills to offer online therapy for children under 12 and their families. Art psychotherapists and play therapists may benefit from ideas in this workshop as part of their ongoing assessment or work with children and their parents, but the focus will predominantly be for professional offering talking therapies.
How May This Workshop Impact Your Practice?
This workshop will enhance your ability to engage children under 12 and their families in evidence-based online therapy; and expand the offering of your practice when working with presentations such as:-
- generalised anxiety, panic disorders
- low mood
- low self-esteem
- bereavement
- bullying
- trauma
- obsessive compulsive disorder
- and separation anxiety, to name a few examples.
Course Content
Presenter
Dr Esther Cole is a Consultant Clinical Psychologist and Founder of a multi award-winning company Lifespan Psychology – The Diverse Practice®. Dr. Cole worked in the NHS for 12 years and joined the independent sector in 2017. She is currently on the BPS Division of Clinical Psychology sub-committee for Equality Diversity & Inclusion and the Special Group for Independent Practice (SGIP).
As a third-generation British Jamaican Psychologist, managing long-term conditions whilst being a mother of three, Dr Cole warmly welcome clients from all walks of life. She has a passion for men’s mental health, and for supporting children and adults living alongside mental, physical or neurological difficulties and trauma.
Dr Cole is co-editor of Psychological Therapy for Paediatric Acquired Brain Injury: Innovations for Children, Young People & Families (Jim, J. & Cole, E. 2019. London: Routledge). She is honoured to have received the Early Career Award 2020 from The British Psychological Society’s Division of Clinical Psychology for her role initiating and editing the book.
The team at Lifespan Psychology offer sessions online and in-person in London and Home Counties. Since COVID-19, the team also offer assessment and therapy sessions online nationally and internationally. To ensure face-to-face contact is maintained where possible, they also offer home and school visits for assessment, therapy and behavioural support.
Dr. Cole and Associates are from culturally and racially diverse backgrounds including the Caribbean, Europe, Africa and Asia. They offer a breadth and depth of skills and experience, and use a wide range of psychological therapies with children, young people, adults and older adults.
