Counselling Sessions With Children & Young People
Individual Counselling using Expressive Therapies and Sandplay Therapy is available for children and adolescents. These personal journeys of healing increase self awareness, emotional intelligence and reconnection to inner resources.
Young people come to counselling for many different reasons. They may have been affected by an emotional or traumatic event, like divorce or the death or illness of a loved one. They may have suffered an early trauma, repeated abuse or live in an ongoing stressful environment, like shared parenting, resulting in emotional turmoil. Often a child’s unusual or challenging behaviours alert us that something is not quite right and they may benefit from connecting with and articulating their inner world. We all have a deep yearning to be heard and listened to. This desire and yearning to express what is inside is even stronger in young people.
When our emotions are blocked we can feel ‘stuck’, sad, angry, alone, resentful, depressed, confused and more. Adults can either carry these feelings around for long periods of time, ignoring the messages from their bodies and the yearnings from their heart, or find positive ways to deal with them. Children are less able to create this split and can lack the language to gain appropriate support. They will respond through behaviours that often seem challenging to adults, ie. aggressive outbursts, attention seeking, anxiety, attempting to gain control, unsuccessful peer and sibling relationships, sleeplessness, bedwetting, depression, school refusal and the list goes on.
A deeper look below the surface reveals what is blocking, holding and preventing growth. Expressive Therapies provide many safe ways for young people to explore and express what is happening in their inner world. By bringing a deeper awareness to these blockages and uncovering the healthy energy and positive emotions that exist at the core of each and every one of us.
Expressive Therapy uses self-discovery processes to bypass the logical mind and tap into that world we know exists but cannot seem to comprehend consciously. This experiential and holistic way of working involves more than ‘just talking about the problem’, and provides the opportunity for real and lasting change. It is based on the belief that each person has their own inner wisdom, and that the expert on who we are and what we need is actually inside us. This allows a client to not just express in words a particular issue, but to then feel the energy of their inner experience. When we connect with and really feel this energy we become open to new ways of understanding the problem. This method allows a feeling of release, insight, increased energy and a sense of well being and resolution.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What Clients Say
“Monique’s ability to hold a safe, nurturing space in which to learn and heal was paramount to the emotional, relational and intellectual depth I was able to go to in the training.”
“Monique was excellent! She has a great knowledge of both Trauma and Sandplay. Her sensitivity and skill as a therapist came into play allowing greater focus on the experiential aspect of learning the content and tools.”
“Monique is absolutely lovely & wonderful! She has such a great mix of personal, accessible energy along with depth and breadth of experience, as well as the ability to convey theoretical concepts clearly.”
“The highlight for me was the blend of experiential and theoretical. It was just right! Monique was compassionate and experienced with a good understanding of the range of material across Sandplay, Symbol Work and Trauma theories. This was an enticing introduction to a great combination of topics. It was well presented, informative and enriching. There was a good mix of personal and professional learning.”
About Therapy
Monique Pangari
M Ed (SGC); M Ed (BM); B Ed/B Arts (Psych); Adv Dip ET; Cert IV TAA; COSP; EFT-C; PMACA
The way I work:
Prior to commencement of sessions: It is preferable to have an interview with you before your child commences sessions to complete consent forms, to ensure I have a good understanding of the situation and to assess whether counselling is appropriate. After the interview and if counselling is appropriate, your child will commence 3 to 6 sessions, which are an hour in length. A follow up interview session will be arranged at the completion of 3 to 6 sessions to review progress and create future plans.
Reporting back to parents: Your child is my client and client confidentiality applies to children and adults alike, however if any safety issues arise I will inform you immediately. In order for trust and confidence to be established, it is essential for children to be able to explore things without censoring their own feelings (often to protect the feelings of a parent/parents). I aim to develop a working partnership with you, for the best outcomes for your child.
Interested in asking me a question about counselling?
Book a Session
I am available for sessions on Mondays and Fridays during business hours and Saturday afternoons by request.
My clinic is located at ‘THRIVE Clinic: Relationship Specialists’, 138 Dalley Street, Mullumbimby, Northern NSW, Australia.
To make an appointment with me, please get in touch by phone or email Or fill out the form below