A child’s mental health matters just as much as their physical health. Start them on the path to emotional well-being with coaching that supports their growth.
Livvy loves helping children with these skills by providing a safe space to explore their emotions, develop coping mechanisms, and build emotional resilience. Creating a safe and loving environment where children feel comfortable expressing their feelings is key… Want to explore practical tips and strategies for nurturing your child’s emotional well-being? Keep reading!
Why Prioritise Children?
“Emotional health is as important as physical health for children, and teaching emotional resilience early on sets them up for a lifetime of well-being. Therapy helps them navigate feelings, build self-esteem, and prepare for life’s challenges.”
— Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, The Whole-Brain Child: 12 Revolutionary Strategies to Nurture Your Child’s Developing Mind (2011)
- Life’s Crucial Turning Points: Childhood and adolescence are formative years. By addressing emotional and cognitive challenges early on, we can set the stage for a more resilient, confident, and well-adjusted adulthood.
- More Flexible Belief Systems: Unlike adults, children’s beliefs are still in formation, making them more malleable. This allows us to guide them gently towards healthier belief patterns before they become deeply ingrained.
- Rapid Responsiveness: With their innate adaptability, children and teens can often respond quickly to therapeutic interventions, showing improvement in shorter time frames.
- It is estimated that half of all mental health conditions emerge by the age of 14 years, change your child’s life by catching this early
The Unique Challenges of Parenting
As much as parents might wish to, being 100% available for your child is a tall order in today’s fast-paced world. Additionally, the close bond between a parent and child, while essential, can sometimes inadvertently transfer stresses and anxieties. An external perspective can offer invaluable support, both for children in navigating their emotions and for parents seeking the best for their young ones.
Livvy’s Approach to Supporting Young Minds
- Tailored Session Durations: Recognising the different attention spans and needs, sessions for children and young teens are kept shorter, ranging from 20 to 45 minutes.
- Brain Integration: Leveraging from neuroscience research, brain development and integration.
- Bach Flowers : Livvy incorporates these gentle and trusted methods to provide holistic care tailored to each child’s unique needs.
- Regular Check-Ins: To ensure consistent support and guidance, many parents opt for our check-in service, scheduling regular sessions, either weekly or fortnightly.
- Versatility in Delivery: online or in-person sessions will can be in a format that works best for your family.
- Custom-Tailored Tools: Every child is unique; Livvy focus’ on finding and using the tools that resonate most effectively with your child, ensuring they receive the most beneficial support possible.
Livvy believes that by nurturing the minds of our young ones today, we are setting the stage for their future.
Children’s Psychological Challenges
Research published in the journal “Developmental Psychology” (2013) found that children with strong emotional regulation skills tend to experience better academic outcomes, healthier relationships, and fewer mental health problems later in life.
“Children who receive emotional support and therapy during difficult times learn valuable skills for coping with stress, building relationships, and understanding their own feelings. These are the building blocks for a healthy adulthood.”
— Dr. Pat Ogden, Trauma and the Body: A Sensorimotor Approach to Psychotherapy (2006)
Anxiety and Depression
For children, anxiety and depression often show up as changes in behavior that might not immediately seem linked to emotional struggles. Symptoms can include:
- Excessive worries about things like school, friends, or family
- Social withdrawal or reluctance to engage in activities that once brought joy
- Mood swings or irritability, which might be misinterpreted as “acting out” rather than emotional distress
Addressing these signs early through emotional support can help a child learn to manage their emotions in healthy ways, rather than letting these feelings interfere with their development.
Behavioural Issues
Children facing challenges with attention, impulse control, and emotional regulation may exhibit a variety of behaviours that signal underlying emotional struggles. These challenges often appear as:
- Difficulty focusing on tasks or staying on track, leading to poor performance in school or social situations
- Impulsive actions such as interrupting others, acting without thinking, or making hasty decisions that can cause problems
- Frequent emotional outbursts such as tantrums, aggression, or crying, often in response to frustration or feeling overwhelmed
- Trouble managing frustration or disappointment resulting in emotional shutdown or anger
- Struggles with following rules or staying within boundaries, both at home and in social settings
- Difficulty transitioning between activities or adapting to changes in routine, often resulting in anxiety or resistance
These behavioural challenges can be signs that a child is struggling to cope with internal emotional turmoil or unmet psychological needs. Early assistance can teach children effective coping strategies and improve their ability to regulate their emotions and behaviour in various settings.
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Learning Disabilities and Learning Difficulties
Learning disabilities and other learning difficulties can affect not only a child’s academic performance but also their sense of self-esteem and confidence. These challenges may manifest in various ways, such as:
- Struggles with reading, writing, or math: Difficulty understanding basic concepts, reading comprehension, or expressing thoughts clearly through writing can lead to frustration
- Problems with processing information: Children may take longer to grasp new ideas, have difficulty following directions, or struggle to retain information
- Challenges with organisation and time management: Difficulty staying organised, completing tasks on time, or managing multiple assignments may cause stress and lower academic performance
- Poor handwriting or difficulty with fine motor skills: This can impact a child’s ability to complete written assignments or perform other tasks requiring dexterity
- Difficulty with problem-solving or critical thinking: A child may have trouble applying learned concepts to real-world situations or solving complex problems
- Low self-esteem or feelings of inadequacy: When children consistently struggle academically, they may begin to feel like they are “not good enough” or that their efforts don’t measure up to their peers
Learning difficulties can often lead to anxiety, avoidance, or behavioural issues, as children become frustrated with their academic challenges. Early identification and appropriate support can help children develop the skills they need to succeed academically and emotionally. Addressing learning difficulties early on helps prevent long-term issues with self-confidence and can pave the way for positive learning experiences.
Trauma
Trauma, whether from family disruptions, loss, abuse, or other distressing experiences, can deeply impact a child’s emotional and psychological development. The effects of trauma often manifest in ways that are not immediately obvious but can include:
- Hypervigilance or an exaggerated startle response
- Difficulty forming trusting relationships
- Sleep disturbances or nightmares
Traumatised children need help to process these experiences, rebuild trust, and learn how to feel safe in their own world again.
Addressing these issues early can help children build resilience and coping mechanisms that will serve them well throughout their lives. If you’re noticing any signs of distress in a child, reaching out for support sooner rather than later can set them on a path toward healing and growth.
Using Play and Creativity to Support Children Through Trauma
Children often encounter challenging life experiences that can leave a lasting impact on their emotional well-being. Play and creativity are powerful tools to help children process trauma while minimising the burden on their developing nervous systems.
Research has shown that engaging in creative activities, such as art, music, and imaginative play, can provide children with a safe outlet for expressing their emotions and fears. These activities not only promote emotional healing but also contribute to cognitive development. Studies on children’s brains reveal that engaging in creative play fosters neural connections and enhances their ability to learn and adapt to new situations. Play-based methods help create a nurturing environment where children can explore, heal, and thrive.
Ready to begin your healing journey?
If you’ve been carrying the effects of stress, trauma, or emotional overwhelm, Somatic EMDR can help you reconnect with a sense of calm and safety within yourself. Healing doesn’t have to be about re-living the past — it’s about gently helping your mind and body work together again.
Book a session or get in touch to find out how Somatic EMDR at The Brain Hug Clinic can support you.