Child and Adolescent Assessment and Therapy

Challenges experienced during childhood and adolescence generally fall into three main categories: age-related difficulties, developmental disorders, and emotional issues.

Before beginning therapeutic work in these areas, a thorough assessment is conducted. This process typically includes interviews with parents and initial sessions with the child to identify key difficulties.

The assessment may span multiple sessions to allow the clinical psychologist to gather comprehensive information about the child’s challenges and the best approaches for intervention.

After the initial evaluation, the family is informed about the findings, and the clinician provides recommendations for appropriate therapeutic services, which may include behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, art therapy, neuropsychological assessment, speech therapy, psychiatric consultation, and more.

At the Guga Sikharulidze Mental Health Research Center, clinical psychology services for children and adolescents include:

Assessment and Diagnosis:

  • Psychological Evaluations: Assessing mental health difficulties such as anxiety, depression, ADHD, autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, fears and phobias, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and more.
  • Interviews: Collecting detailed information from the child/adolescent and their family to understand problems and reasons for seeking help.
  • Standardized Testing: Using age-appropriate tools to evaluate cognitive skills, emotional regulation, and personality traits.

Individual Therapy:

  • Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): An evidence-based therapeutic approach to address anxiety, fears, and behavioral issues.

Family Therapy:

  • Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT): Aims to improve the relationship between parents and children, especially for those facing behavioral challenges.
  • Parent Training and Support: Teaching parents strategies to effectively support their child’s mental health challenges.

Parent Psychoeducation:

  • Educational programs designed to help parents understand child development, mental health issues, and effective parenting techniques.

These services are designed to meet the diverse mental health needs of children and adolescents, improving their emotional, psychological, and social well-being.

Early intervention by parents and collaboration with qualified specialists are crucial for addressing childhood difficulties and promoting long-term mental wellness.

Adolescence is a critical developmental stage. Timely attention from the family and specialists to any changes in personality, behavior, or physical health helps ensure emotional and behavioral difficulties are effectively managed within a short time frame.