An Overview Of Child Psychology And How A Child Psychologist Can Help Your Child
Child psychology is a field of psychology in which professionals specialize in evaluating and treating the mental, social, emotional, and behavioral health of individuals from birth to adolescence.
Child psychologists are educated in child development, including the psychological needs of children and adolescents and how social contexts influence their emotional adjustment, mental health, and overall well-being.
Concepts in child psychology include but are not limited to:
- Attachment: Attachment is the emotional bond between a child and their caregiver, which can play a role in social and emotional development
- Developmental milestones: These milestones are indicators of development observed from birth to adolescence. Examples can include speech, crawling, and walking
- Cognitive development: This type of development refers to how a child’s mind grows as they age, meeting specific goals of understanding, thinking, and problem-solving
- Social-emotional development: Social-emotional development involves learning social and emotional skills throughout childhood, including empathy, self-awareness, and relationship-building
A brief history of child psychology
Child psychology has its roots in 1891 when psychologist G Stanley Hall published a report on the interests and activities of children. However, organized research on the topic was not fully explored until after World War I when various special centers were founded at Columbia University, the State University of Iowa, the University of Minnesota, and the University of California.
Fundamental developmental theories that shaped child psychology include Freud’s psychosexual stages and Piaget’s theory of cognitive development. Freud’s theory proposes a series of stages that a child passes through to adulthood, each connected to an erogenous zone of the body and a conflict that he considered necessary to be resolved for health development.
Piaget theorizes that children pass through four distinct stages of cognitive growth, each characterized by different abilities and thought processes. These stages can be used to meet a child on their own level and offer certain types of emotional support based on their current stage.
The educational track of a child psychologist
On average, it takes seven to 10 years of schooling to become a child psychologist. Someone interested in pursuing a career in child psychology might start by earning an undergraduate degree (bachelor’s degree), ideally in psychology or another mental health-related field. Next, they may attend graduate school and earn a doctoral degree, either a PhD (Doctor of Philosophy) or PsyD (Doctor of Psychology). This degree involves specialized education and training in the field of child psychology, during which the individual may be required to complete a year-long full-time internship.
For the final step toward licensure, the graduate may take a national exam and any exams required by the state in which they’ll be practicing. In most states, they may also be asked to participate in a full year of supervised practice before becoming licensed. Often, prospective psychologists also participate in additional training for a specific specialty.
Child psychology vs. child therapy
A child therapist and a child psychologist are both mental health professionals who specialize in the same field, but there are some differences between them.
Child therapists
A therapist is a licensed provider who works in clinical practice and has at least a master’s degree in psychology, family and marriage therapy, or another psychological discipline. A child therapist is trained in talk therapy and may effectively support a child in managing depression, anxiety, anger, and dealing with life changes, among other topics. These professionals can also offer emotional support and may help parents communicate more effectively with their children.
Child therapists can offer treatment for a child’s emotional or mental health issues. Still, they may not be the best choice for diagnosis required for school accommodations, as school systems may prefer that parents work with a psychologist.
Child psychologists
Child psychologists have doctoral degrees and are qualified to administer official psychoanalysis tests that child therapists may not be qualified to offer. A child psychologist may be beneficial for a child living with a neurodevelopmental condition that affects social interaction or learning, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) or autism spectrum disorder (ASD), or if you are looking for a more detailed diagnosis.
Child psychiatrists
If you are considering medication management, a child psychiatrist can offer support. These professionals are medical doctors and mental health practitioners who can prescribe and manage medications for your child for ADHD or other mental health conditions. Some psychiatrists choose not to offer psychoanalytic testing or therapy alongside medication management. A child therapist or child psychologist may be better suited to these cases.
What does a child psychologist do?
Branches of childhood psychology include developmental, educational, clinical, and school psychology, showcasing a range of subspecialties within this specialty. Psychologists may work with infants or young children or in adolescent psychology.
Depending on their line of work, a child psychologist might offer any of the following:
- Therapy: Psychologists may offer therapeutic interventions like talk therapy and behavior management, utilizing therapeutic techniques like anger management, cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), art therapy, trauma therapy, music therapy, group therapy, occupational therapy, and family therapy, among others.
- Collaborative support: Psychologists may work with other healthcare professionals on a treatment team for children with chronic illnesses or cognitive conditions.
- Educational programs: These professionals may develop prevention programs for schools and communities, such as bullying prevention, drug and alcohol prevention, or teen pregnancy prevention
- Assessments: Psychologists often conduct intellectual, cognitive, or behavioral assessments for schools, in medical settings, for the justice system, or in in-person practice.
Support options for your child
Child therapists and psychologists may both offer support for your child’s mental health, and they don’t need to be diagnosed with a mental illness to receive help. However, a therapist may be a more affordable option if you want your child to meet with a provider regularly. A child therapist may also be an effective choice if you seek family therapy, parent-child interaction therapy, or coping support for a major life change affecting your child or your family.
If you are seeking a professional to help your child manage big feelings, research has shown that talking to a child therapist can be an effective way to improve mental health outcomes. A therapist can offer emotional support and a range of tools to manage stress, build self-esteem, and shift negative thoughts and behaviors into more positive directions.
Support options for parents
Therapy for parents can be another way to learn more about a child's mental health and how to manage mental health challenges at home. However, some parents may avoid traditional in-person therapy due to concerns about time or money. In these cases, online therapy platforms like BetterHelp may be more convenient. Adolescents can also participate in online therapy through a platform like TeenCounseling for those aged 13 to 19.
Through an online therapy platform, clients can meet with a therapist via phone, video, or live chat. In addition, sessions may be more flexible in time, allowing parents to schedule around their calendar, including outside of standard business hours or on the weekends. Studies have shown that online therapy can be as effective as in-person therapy and more flexible.
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