| Brain disorders and mental health: Common treatments | 2004.00000000000 | Brain disorders and mental health: Common treatments | Brain disorders and mental health: Common treatments | B | English | Psychiatry | Child (0-12 years);Teen (13-18 years) | Brain | Brain | Non-drug treatment | Caregivers
Adult (19+) | NA | | 2017-07-12T04:00:00Z | | Kyla McDonald, MA, PhD (c);Tricia Williams, PhD, C Psych, ABPP-CN | | | | 10.0000000000000 | 44.9000000000000 | 643.000000000000 | | Health (A-Z) - Procedure | Health A-Z | <p>Discover the range of treatments and support your child if they face mental health challenges because of a neurological condition.</p> | <p>Although some programs have been developed specifically for children with
<a href="/Article?contentid=1926&language=English">brain disorders</a>, many of the suggested approaches come from what helps with typically developing kids and their families. These include:</p><ul><li>parenting support</li><li>behaviour therapy</li><li>cognitive behavioural therapy</li><li>mindfulness</li><li>medications</li></ul>
<br> | | <h2>Key points</h2>
<ul>
<li>Parenting support can be provided to individual parents or in groups to help promote your child's development and prevent or handle any emotional and behavioural problems.</li>
<li>Psychotherapy can help both the child and the rest of the family cope with the impact of a neurological condition on personal and family life.</li>
<li>A child may also benefit from mindfulness, to focus their thoughts, and motivational interviewing, to help them understand their reasons for changing their behaviour.</li>
<li>Medications may sometimes be recommended, depending on your child's needs.</li>
</ul> | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | <h2>Parenting support</h2>
<p>In the early years, parenting support can be extremely helpful in promoting your child's development and mental health. Please speak to your family doctor about resources that might be available in your community. The neuropsychologist might also be able to share some options after your child's <a href="/Article?contentid=2002&language=English">neuropsychological assessment</a>.</p>
<p>This type of support can be offered in group sessions or to individual parents or couples. The overall goals are to help parents:</p>
<ul>
<li>promote their child's emotional, social and academic competence</li>
<li>prevent, reduce and treat behavioural and emotional problems.</li>
</ul>
<h2>Psychotherapy</h2>
<p>The main type of therapy that has been shown to be useful is cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). This helps a child explore the relationship between their thoughts, feelings and behaviours.</p>
<p>As another form of psychotherapy, family therapy helps those affected by a brain disorder and any mental health issues to understand the family as a system. The goal of family therapy is to support optimal development and mental health for <em>all</em> family members.</p>
<h2>Mindfulness </h2>
<p>Mindfulness helps parents practise being focused on the present moment in their parenting and responding thoughtfully to any behavioural issues instead of reacting as if on autopilot.</p>
<p>An emerging body of research indicates that mindfulness can also help children improve their abilities to pay attention, calm down when they are upset and make better decisions. In short, it helps both parents and children regulate their emotions and focus their thinking.</p>
<h2>Motivational interviewing </h2>
<p>Motivational interviewing is a type of interview that is done in a clinic by a therapist, psychologist or trained medical professional to help patients understand their positive motivations for changing their behaviour to improve their physical and mental health. This interviewing technique can occur as needed or over a series of sessions.</p>
<h2>Medications </h2>
<p>Some children can learn to cope with support from parents, mindfulness or other therapies. However, medications may sometimes be recommended if they are considered appropriate. This very much depends on a child's individual needs.</p> | | | | | | <h2>Further information</h2>
<p>For more information on brain disorders and related mental health challenges, please see the following pages:</p>
<p><a href="/Article?contentid=1926&language=English">Brain disorders and mental health: Overview</a></p>
<p><a href="/Article?contentid=2002&language=English">Brain disorders and mental health: Assessing your child for neuropsychological difficulties</a></p>
<p><a href="/Article?contentid=2003&language=English">Brain disorders and mental health: How to help your child cope</a></p>
<h2>Resources</h2>
<p>The following books offer useful information about brain disorders and related mental health issues.</p>
<p>Dawson, P. & Guare, R. (2009). <em>Smart but Scattered. </em>New York, NY: The Guildford Press.</p>
<p>Dawson, P. & Guare, R. (2010). <em>Executive Skills in Children and Adolescents</em>. New York, NY: The Guildford Press.</p>
<p>Greene, R. W. (2014). <em>The Explosive Child.</em> New York, NY: HarperCollins.</p>
<p>Guare, R. & Dawson, P. (2013). <em>Smart but Scattered TEENS. </em>New York, NY: The Guildford Press.</p>
<p>Huebner, D. (2005). <em>What to Do When You Worry Too Much: A Kid's Guide to Overcoming Anxiety</em>. Magination Press.</p>
<p>Siegel, D. J. (2013). <em>Brainstorm. </em>New York, NY: Penguin Group.</p>
<p>Siegal, D. J. & Bryson, T. P. (2011). <em>The Whole Brain Child</em>. New York, NY: Random House.</p> | | | https://assets.aboutkidshealth.ca/AKHAssets/brain_disorders_and_mental_health_how_to_help_your_child_cope.jpg | | | | | | | Brain disorders and mental health: Common treatments | | False | | | | | |
