Psychology Consultation (Children & Adolescents)
Growing up is a wonderful process, but also a deeply complex one. Throughout their development, children and adolescents encounter a world of new emotions, academic demands and social changes that can sometimes be hard to process. As parents or carers, seeing a child withdraw, suddenly change their behaviour, or show a distress we cannot decipher brings enormous anguish.
At Clínica Bem Me Quero, the Child and Adolescent Psychology consultation offers a safe, playful and specialist space to help young people understand and regulate their inner world. Through an integrative approach adapted to each age — using play, drawing and expressive therapy with children, and validation and confidentiality with adolescents — we work side by side with the family and the school to restore serenity to growing up.
We support children, adolescents and their families through challenges such as:
- Childhood anxiety, intense fears and phobias
- Depressive symptoms, deep sadness and withdrawal
- Self-harming behaviours and ideation
- Difficulties with emotional regulation (anger outbursts, frequent crying, impulsivity)
- Sudden behavioural changes and school refusal
- School difficulties, attention problems or anxiety during assessments
- Adjusting to life changes (parents' divorce, bereavement, changing school or country)
- Low self-esteem, insecurity and difficulties in peer relationships
- Specific challenges of adolescence (identity, body image, managing social media)
In-person consultations take place in Lisbon and Porto. Follow-up for adolescents and feedback sessions with parents can also be held online.
Frequently asked questions
What happens in the first consultation? Do I have to bring my child with me?
The first consultation is held exclusively with the parents or primary carers, without the child or adolescent present. This is a fundamental moment for us to gather your child's developmental history and understand your fears and concerns with complete freedom, without the filter or self-consciousness of the child. From the second session onwards, we begin direct contact with the child or young person.
How long does the therapeutic process with young people last?
There is no standard length, as every childhood and adolescence is unique. The process begins with an assessment phase. After this stage, we meet again with the parents to share our conclusions and design an intervention plan. Therapy may be briefer and focused on a specific challenge (such as adjusting to a divorce) or require more ongoing support, depending on the child's needs.
How does confidentiality work with adolescents? Do parents know what is said in the session?
For the therapist to build a relationship of complete trust with the adolescent, the space of the consultation must be strictly private. Everything the young person shares remains confidential. However, parents are never left out: we hold regular feedback sessions with carers to align parenting strategies, focusing on the general dynamics and progress, without ever breaking the adolescent's professional confidentiality — except, for ethical and legal reasons, in situations where there is a risk to the life of the young person or others.
Do online sessions work with children?
For younger children, we favour the in-person format in Lisbon and Porto, since therapy relies heavily on physical play, drawing and movement in the consulting room. However, the online format works extraordinarily well with adolescents (who feel very comfortable in the digital environment) and is the format we use for counselling and feedback sessions with parents, sparing them from having to travel to the clinic just to talk with the psychologist.
Do you have agreements with any insurer or health subsystem?
We don't have direct agreements with insurers or health entities. However, fortunately the vast majority of insurers and health subsystems already reimburse a significant percentage of the cost of private sessions. We suggest you check the specific conditions and coverage with your insurer. If reimbursement doesn't apply in your case, all our invoices are issued with your tax number, so they are automatically included in your IRS tax return as health expenses, where you are entitled to the corresponding deduction.
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