Children and young people with severe and long-lasting mental health problems may respond to people and situations in ways that they do not understand and cannot control. Their emotions can be extreme and are often expressed through their behaviour and in problematic relationships. These difficulties often extend to relationships with services and professionals. This can prevent these children from benefiting from the care and opportunities that are available to them. 

The approach of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists seeks to look beneath the surface of difficult emotions, behaviours and relationships to help children, adolescents and their families to understand themselves and their problems. They are trained to carefully observe what a child or young person might be communicating non-verbally through their behaviour and play.

The extensive training of Child and Adolescent Psychotherapists enables them to work with these very disturbing thoughts and to develop and sustain relationships with children and young people to help them to make sense of their experience. Confused, frightened, hurt, angry or painful feelings can gradually be put into words rather than actions. As a result the child can begin to express their emotions in less disturbed ways and start to return to the normal process of child development. They are likely to feel less anxious, more able to learn and better equipped to sustain friendships.