...The REsource for Advancing Children's Health

Individual Therapy

Individual therapy is frequently done in combination with family or group therapy, and, when needed, psychopharmacology. It may take the actual form of play therapy, art therapy, or several other applicable forms depending on the child's age, development and diagnosis.

There are four theories on which individual therapy for children and adolescents are based.

1. Psychoanalytic. In this theory, a therapist tries to reverse the course of an emotional disturbance by reenacting and desensitizing a traumatic experience. This is accomplished through free expression in an interview or play format. The goal is to help the child understand his or her subconscious feelings and fears. While many practitioners use this form of therapy, there is in fact still very little evidence available to demonstrate that "it works."
2. Behavioral. The therapist intervenes in helping the child (and/or parent through parental management training) to either learn appropriate behavior that was never learned or in unlearning inappropriate behavior, regardless of how the behavior was or was not originally adopted.
3. Family Systems. The basis of this theory is for the therapist to understand the role each person, and particularly the patient, has developed within the family, and how that role or roles is reflected in the child's disorder. Like psychoanalytically based play therapy, very few studies have been conducted to show that this form of therapy "works," even though for some children it may in fact be effective.
4. Developmental Theories. This theory involves the knowledge and understanding of children's age-appropriate behavior and skills (social, motor, emotional, intellectual, etc.)

With individual therapy, parental involvement beyond the initial information gathering varies from an active role in therapy (such as parental management training) to merely providing transportation and bill paying.