What is psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy?

Psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy (PCAP) is a core NHS profession, approved by the Department of Health, with rigorous standards, regulations and training.  

We work in multi-disciplinary child and adolescent mental health services (CAMHS), other public services and the independent sector. We assess and treat infants, children and young people up to the age of 23 whose problems range in type, complexity and severity and sometimes work with their parents and families.

Benefits of psychoanalytic child and adolescent psychotherapy

Those we work with may respond to people and situations in problematic ways that they cannot fully understand or control, hindering their daily lives, relationships and ability to make good use of opportunities and potentials. 

Of central importance is the therapeutic relationship, building one that feels safe enough for those we see to reflect on difficult thoughts and feelings. The relationship also provides a particular opportunity to think about how a person relates to the therapist and how this may echo ways of being in their other relationships. We look beneath what we are presented with to develop deeper understandings of the emotional lives of those we work with, to support them in better understanding themselves and their difficulties.  

Our training equips us to carefully observe, understand and respond to behaviour and play as communication, to work with high levels of disturbance and anxiety, and unconscious thoughts and processes. Over time, as a person is helped to make sense of their experience, difficult and painful feelings can be verbalised and expressed in less disturbing ways. Anxiety is likely to reduce, the ability to learn will increase and improved relationships can be enjoyed as part of a gradual return to a more normal process of development.

If you are unsure of the type of therapy you need, you can search for a therapist here.