I am considering whether or not counselling would be a good idea for DD1 who will be 5 in a couple of months time. I just really wanted to know if anyone has any experience of this and whether or not you think it's a good idea.
DD1 is an absolutely lovely little girl, bright, funny, loving, but she's had a hell of a couple of years and she has huge meltdowns. I am never sure if these meltdowns are a result of the stuff she's had to go through or just 'normal' for a quite high maintenance girl.
Between the ages of 2.5 - 3.5 years, DD1 had to go through so much. Firstly, she started preschool (she had always been at home with me before then), then DD2 was born, so DD1 suddenly had to share me, then DH got seriously ill, diagnosed with cancer and spent a few weeks in hospital. Then her grandfather (my father) died. Then we moved house. All of that was in the space of 4 months. And then, just under a year after being diagnosed, DH died. That's just over a year ago now. So poor DD1 has had so much to deal with in her very young life and I want to do all I can to help her through it.
When DD1 has one of her meltdowns, it can start from anything. Last night it was because DD2 got out of the bath before she did. And so DD1 screamed about it for an hour. My new strategy has been to ignore the screams, which doesn't actually seem to help and the tantrum escalated the same and went on for a similar amount of time as normal. But whatever I do or say seems to have little effect. DD1 becomes so contrary. Getting dressed she might demand that I put her clothes on. If I go to do that, she screams that she wants to do it herself. And then that she wants me to do it, etc. I do try not to get drawn into it, but sometimes it's difficult. And I try not to shout at her, but sometimes that's impossible difficult too.
Arrrgggghhh! So....to my original question, do you think counselling could help DD1? I really don't think that these tantrums are within 'normal' parameters at her age, are they? They seem so extreme and there is just no placating her until she has worked herself into a real state and then eventually calms down.
Any help/advice you could give would be much appreciated, thank you
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Child mental health
Counselling for a (nearly) 5 year old?
13 replies
Rindercella · 20/06/2012 12:20
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