The best training in infant-juvenile therapy
Children and adolescents with psychological and relational problems form one of the segments of the population that can benefit the most from psychotherapy services. However, in order to give them these tools, it is necessary to train a group of psychologists capable of dealing with the characteristic problems of minors with regard to forms of psychological distress and problems of adaptation or learning.
In this article we will see what they are the characteristics that have the best training in infanto-juvenile therapy , and the way in which these are reflected in the way of learning the theory and practice of this professional field.
- Related article: "The 6 stages of childhood (physical and psychic development)"
How to choose the best training in infant-juvenile therapy
The first years of our lives are, in many aspects, the most psychologically relevant. In them not only begins to shape our personality from the mixture of environmental and genetic factors: also, the behavior patterns and attitudes that we adopt in this life stage tend to structure the way in which we live life once we have entered into adulthood.
On the other hand, childhood and early youth are moments of special vulnerability . At these ages we do not have the material, behavioral and cognitive tools to face the problems that arise, and parents and caregivers can not guarantee full protection against all kinds of misfortunes.
Learning difficulties, experience of traumatic experiences, socialization problems ... These are situations that we adults could manage relatively well for ourselves, but that children and adolescents do not know how to address.
That is why child-youth therapy is a very valuable tool to promote mental health and adaptation to the environment in the part of the population composed of minors.
Now ... What characteristics should training in child and adolescent therapy meet to meet the fundamental requirements of quality psychological intervention applied in a professional and therapeutic context? Let's see them below.
1. Helps to understand the stages of psychological evolution
Each stage of childhood and adolescence occurs during the development of certain mental abilities, both cognitive and emotional. Children and adolescents are not simple recipients in which to pour all kinds of skills; every moment of development requires the monitoring and strengthening of certain competences , no more no less.
That is why, for example, we must take into account what kind of mental operations can be expected in a seven-year-old boy or girl, and what kind of cognitive training should be postponed so as not to waste resources and not generate frustration.
- Maybe you're interested: "Child therapy: what it is and what are its benefits"
2. Train in the analysis of environmental factors
Many times we tend to assume that the psychological is something individual of each person, that takes place in his interior without that the contextual elements can intervene. But nevertheless, the environment matters, and a lot .
For example, a girl who is very passive and submissive does not have to be described simply by the label of "shyness"; Perhaps, their behavior is the result of a history of school bullying.
3. It allows to study the theory and practice
This characteristic is fundamental in childhood-juvenile psychotherapy, and also in the learning of any other type of psychological intervention. After all, everything that is studied must be applied in real cases with real subjects , and none of these cases will adapt perfectly to the descriptions and classification criteria that appear in the manuals.
4. Teaches aspects of relationship with clients and patients
In the child-juvenile psychotherapy there is a clear differentiation between clients and patients. This makes it necessary to understand how to communicate progress and make returns from what has emerged in therapy sessions, for example.
The relationship model with clients and patients is very characteristic, especially if we take into account that in the case of minors, special measures must be adopted in our way of managing the information obtained without exposing them to vulnerabilities.
5. Offers a review of the phases of therapy
All the knowledge obtained in this kind of training programs should be structured from a basic outline of the stages of childhood-juvenile psychotherapy . In this way not only is it much easier to study these contents, but it also allows you to fully understand the meaning of each of these steps.
Learning loose brushstrokes of what this kind of therapy is is of little use; It is essential to have a global and structured vision.
An example of a training program
In Spain, fortunately, it is already possible to find very interesting specialization courses in infant-juvenile therapy. An example of this is the case of Practical Course on Child and Youth Psychology of the Mensalus Institute , in Barcelona.
It has a development of eight sessions of three hours each and a structured syllabus of all the theoretical and practical elements that it is essential to know. It is especially indicated for people who want to know from the hand of experts the way in which it intervenes in these cases, all in facilities where therapy is performed daily.
- For more information about the course, you can access the contact information of Mensalus by clicking here.
