A Note to Kids
Welcome! My name is An. I am from Belgium, Europe but I have been living in Chico for more than twenty years.
In psychotherapy you are the one who holds the key.
A space just for you
Meeting with a therapist can help you hurt less, because sometimes there are things you cannot easily talk about with the people you love most: your parents, family or friends.
how our time together works
It is my job to listen to people in a special way. This does not necessarily mean that it is your job to talk! You can use the space in your own way. You might want to talk, but you can also use art materials or toys. There is nothing you must do here.
A psychotherapist does not ‘take sides,’ and is not allowed to talk with other people about what you tell him or her.
no good guys or bad guys
If I also meet with your parents, I will listen to you and to them without taking sides. In therapy there are no ‘good guys’ or ‘bad guys!’ A therapist is not like a teacher - I will not tell you what to do, and is also not like a doctor - I do not prescribe any medications.
'Who in the world am I? Ah, that's the great puzzle.'
—Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
what you share stays private
What you tell me confidential. This means that while you are free to say whatever you feel, I am not allowed to share it with anyone else.
“I can't go back to yesterday because I was a different person then.”
—Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
an adventure in discovering yourself
Therapy might sound like a serious word, but is really just a special space where you may begin to see yourself and the world in a new light. It can be like an adventure - one that help hearts grow lighter, and helps people love life and others more.
when kids ask for help
Kids sometimes want help when they suffer from:
Troubling thoughts
Bad feelings
Sadness/ ‘depression’
Anger
Trouble getting along with parents or siblings
Making and keeping friends
Problems at school
Anxiety
Feeling scared
Being worried
Bad dreams
Things they think are too embarrassing to tell...