Children 6 to 9 Years

When is it time to get help?

Like most mental or physical health issues, it’s always better to seek help sooner rather than later. This is especially true in children who are exhibiting signs of mental health issues or are suspected of having developmental or learning disorders. It’s important for parents to learn how to deal with their children’s issues and how to best support their child. If you are finding that your child’s behaviour or moods seems different – such as more frequent or severe emotional outbursts, they’re being ostracized by their friends, they’re causing turmoil in the family, their teachers are expressing concerns about their behaviour in school, or they’re experiencing the symptoms listed above, it’s likely time to seek help – especially if they’ve recently suffered a traumatic event.

Treatment methods for mental health issues in children

There are various treatment methods that are effective for 6 to 9 year-old children, depending on what they are experiencing or what situation they are facing. Your therapist will determine the best treatment for your child’s individual circumstances. They include:

• Play therapy refers to a large number of treatment methods, all of which make use of one or more of the natural benefits of play, using toys, dolls, games, etc. Play allows children a safe psychological distance from their problems and allows them to express their true thought and feelings in ways best suited to their developmental level.
• Art therapy clients use their imagination to approach and explore their emotions, feelings, and thoughts. Especially useful in young people and people with developmental delays, when their motor skills exceed their verbal skills.
• Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based approach to treatment that focuses on how people’s thoughts, emotions, and beliefs influence their behaviour and how they perceive themselves.
• Eye movement desensitization reprocessing therapy (EMDR) is defined by EMDR Canada as an integrative psychotherapy approach that has been extensively researched and proven effective for the treatment of trauma and many other mental health problems that utilized bilateral eye stimulation or somatic responding.

Treating children this young will always involve parents. Effective treatment methods include:

• Family systems therapy looks at the family as one emotional unit. This therapeutic approach looks at the relationships within the family and the structure as a whole.
• Structural family therapy involves looking at the structures within the family unit. Changing the underlying structure tends to cause a ripple effect on the family. This therapy analyzes the hierarchical structure, subsystems, and boundaries within the family.

Your therapist may also recommend couples counselling and or parenting support programs such as the Triple P Positive Parenting Program.