The child and adolescent mental health service (CAMHS) offers psychological therapies for children aged 5 to 18 and their families, following an assessment.
The therapy pathway includes various approaches, such as:
- compassion focused therapy
- cognitive behavioural therapy
- cognitive analytic therapy
- art therapy
- family therapy
- child psychotherapy
These therapies may be used individually or together, depending on the child’s needs and preferences. Clinical psychologists and other trained therapists provide these services.
Compassion focussed therapy
Compassion focused therapy (CFT) helps people manage shame and self-criticism by teaching kindness and self-acceptance. It is effective for issues like trauma, anger, anxiety, pain, and depression, particularly where self-blame or low self-worth are involved.
Cognitive behavioural therapy
Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) helps children and families understand the links between thoughts, behaviours, and physical responses, and how these impact feelings. It works on changing unhelpful patterns to improve emotional wellbeing.
Family therapy
Systemic or family therapy
When one family member faces a challenge, it can affect the whole family. Supporting a child or young person often involves the help of parents, carers, and siblings. Working together can make a big difference.
Family therapy
Family therapy helps families work together to improve relationships and find solutions to problems. It can be offered by a family therapist alone or with a reflecting team. A systemic approach can also support individuals through one-to-one sessions with a family therapist.
Narrative therapy
Narrative therapy helps people understand their lives through the stories they tell and hear about themselves. It empowers young people and families to shape their own preferred stories.
Child psychotherapy
A psychotherapist helps children and young people explore and manage difficult feelings in a safe, stable relationship. Parent support may be offered alongside to enhance therapy effectiveness.
Art psychotherapy
Art therapists use artwork to help children and young people explore worries, memories, and fears. This therapy is useful for those who struggle to express feelings with words.
Cognitive analytic therapy
Cognitive analytic therapy helps young people understand their thoughts, feelings, and behaviours in relationships. It combines cognitive-behavioural and psychodynamic approaches and can support those facing depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, self-harm, or repeated relationship difficulties.
Dyadic developmental psychotherapy
Dyadic developmental psychotherapy (DDP) is a relationship-based approach rooted in attachment theory. It helps young people explore and process difficult emotions and experiences in a safe setting. Therapy focuses on understanding current challenges in the context of past experiences. Parents or carers are involved, gradually becoming co-therapists to support healing and connection.
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing
Eye movement desensitisation and reprocessing (EMDR) helps process traumatic memories linked to posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety, phobias, pain, and nightmares. It involves recalling a distressing memory while using bilateral stimulation, such as eye movements, tapping, or sounds, to reduce its emotional impact.
Page last reviewed: February 13, 2025
Next review due: February 13, 2026
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