Child

“It is a joy to be hidden, and a disaster not to be found”  D.W. Winnicott

The Milburn Psychology Practice approach in working with children, adolescents, and families is based on an understanding that all human experience is fundamentally interpersonal. Children and young people are most usefully understood in the context of their relationships, their families, and schools.

Milburn Psychology Practice offers a range of assessment and psychotherapy services to help children, young people and their families when emotional/behaviour problems hinder their psychological development. The practice’s services are based on psychological approaches (attachment, psycho-dynamic, cognitive-behavioural and developmental) that address underlying causes of problems and assists children to create a strong psychological foundation for their ongoing development.

The practice works with children and young people with a wide range of difficulties, including: problems with peer relationships, underachievement at school, aggressive outbursts or tantrums, insecurity and lack of confidence, learning difficulties, disabilities or more serious mental health conditions including: self-harm, eating disorders, oppositional behaviour, depression, anxiety. The practice also treat children who are suffering the effects of neglect, abuse and poor attachment.

Assessment

The initial assessment is an opportunity to discuss what concerns and experiences have brought you to seek support and to reach an understanding of the difficulties you and your child/children are experiencing.  Based on a psychological assessment of your child’s functioning, Dr Milburn will discuss with you whether further assessments or treatment, in the form of Psychotherapy would be helpful.

Psychotherapy treatment

Extensive outcome research and clinical experience has established that the foundation of therapy, what ever the model, is the relationship with a trusted, specially trained therapist who can help children deal with the causes of distress and help them acquire the psychological skills to cope more adaptively in the future. Young children often communicate through play, where the use of toys, drawing, stories and other mediums help your child to identify, explore and express their feelings. Older children and adolescents may prefer to just talk.

Through the therapeutic relationship with Dr Milburn in a consistent setting, that is safe and non-judgmental the child or young person may begin to feel able to express their troubling thoughts and conflicted feelings. Confused, frighten, hurt angry or painful feelings can gradually be put into words rather than actions. Dr Milburn can help the child or young person make sense of their own experience. By being understood, they can find new and healthier ways of managing their difficulties and lasting changes in their emotional states and behaviour.

Consultations during while your child is in psychotherapy

Psychotherapy with children and adolescents is a collaborative endeavour with parents or caregivers. In the course of your child’s psychotherapy I will meet regularly with you to discuss the work. You may also contact me at any time to let me know of any concern or progress. An ongoing dialogue between you and I is an important part of your child’s psychotherapy.

 

Therapeutic support for parents and carers

Dr Milburn’s aim is to provide parents and carers with the skills and techniques, underpinned by the most up to date evidence-based therapeutic interventions, to help troubled children, young people and families recover and thrive. He provides practical guidance and therapeutic support to parents and carers on the above issues, as well as the following:

• Practical guidance on managing sleep, eating, crying and emotional tantrums in toddlers and young children

• Psychological guidance on understanding and managing attachment difficulties and distress in the family

• Family and couple relationship difficulties, changing family structures

• Parental mental health difficulties and their impact on children and families