When a child needs the help of a child psychologist and how to choose a specialist

Often, parents only consider consulting a child psychologist when a child's behavior becomes unmanageable. At the same time, experts emphasize that help should be sought not only in crisis situations, but also at the first signs of prolonged changes in emotional state or relationships within the family itself. Psychologist Olga Golubytska, who has 16 years of experience working with children and adults, spoke specifically for UNN about when a child truly needs a psychologist, how to recognize warning signs, and why working with a specialist begins not with the child, but with the parents.

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Many parents turn to a child psychologist when they notice changes in their child's behavior or face difficulties in communicating with them. At the same time, the problem does not always lie solely with the child, as the family atmosphere significantly influences their emotional state. A child is part of a family system, and therefore any difficulties should be considered comprehensively.

Quite often, parents bring a child because of a breakdown in contact between the parents and the child. When you start working, it turns out that everything is actually more or less fine with the child. What is not fine is the contact itself and how the family system is structured. In fact, it is quite easy to help a child, and much more difficult to build contact with the parents so that they begin to change their family system and take into account the child's age-related characteristics,

According to the psychologist, warning signs in children can include both excessively emotional reactions and excessive withdrawal. Particular attention should be paid to changes that last for a long time and do not depend on a specific situation. Psychosomatic manifestations can also indicate psychological difficulties.

If we are talking only about the child, these could be hyper-reactions that last for a very long time. A child may cry constantly, have nightmares, nervous tics, or other psychosomatic manifestations. Or vice versa — be too silent, not engage in contact, not want to leave their room or go outside. Anything that manifests in a hyper-form and repeats over a long period is a reason to consult a psychologist,

Choosing the right specialist is equally important. According to Olga Golubytska, the introduction to a psychologist should begin specifically with the parents, not the child, because during the first meeting, it is necessary to discuss the problem, the child's developmental history, and the format of future work.

Ideally, the first meeting should be without the child, only with the parents. They tell the child's story, describe the situation, and the psychologist explains how the work will proceed. It is very important that the parents like the psychologist. If the parents do not trust the specialist, but the child has already established contact with them, this can create additional difficulties. The psychologist must clearly explain the work algorithm, methods, and stages of therapy,

Another common problem is a child's fear of meeting a psychologist. The expert is convinced that the main rule for parents is honesty. That is, one should not deceive the child or hide the true purpose of the visit.

You shouldn't tell the child that you are going to the doctor or just for a walk. You need to honestly explain that a psychologist is a person who helps to better understand one's emotions and feelings. It is very important that the child feels they have a choice. I always tell children that if they don't like me, they have the right to say so, refuse, and not come back. It is important for a child to understand that they are respected as an individual,

The psychologist also emphasizes that effective therapy does not always mean rapid positive changes. Sometimes a child may become more emotional or begin to react more sharply to events, and this is also often part of the change process.

When the work begins to take effect, the child changes. Sometimes this looks like a worsening of behavior, but in reality, it can be a sign that the process has started. It's like a renovation: at first, it becomes uncomfortable because something is being rebuilt. Therefore, it is important for parents to be patient and remember that changes do not happen in two or three sessions,

Among the common myths about child psychologists, Olga Golubytska mentions the belief that a child psychologist has lower qualifications than a specialist for adults, or that a child can be "fixed" in a few sessions. Parents also often doubt the effectiveness of online consultations.

There is a myth that a child psychologist is a psychologist who couldn't work with adults. In fact, a child psychologist works with both children and parents, meaning the entire family system. It is also a myth that a psychologist can quickly "repair" a child without parental involvement. As for online work, it can be effective, but for older children; for preschoolers, face-to-face contact remains the better option,

Olga Golubytska concludes that helping a child is almost always linked to the work of the entire family. That is why it is important for parents to be ready not only to bring the child to a psychologist but also to actively participate in the process of change themselves.

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