CYP Now - Therapy for under-fives reduces wider mental health problems in families, study finds

Mental health problems in families can be reduced by offering therapeutic interventions to babies and pre-school age children as well as their parents or care givers, a study has found.

Educational psychologists say they do not have the time to properly fulfil their roles - Krakenimages/Adobe Stock

The research looked at the impact of psychotherapy sessions on children under the age of five as well as their parents and carers.

“Therapeutic interventions in the very early months and years of life can help to prevent and reduce mental health difficulties both for parents and their children,” found the study, which involved analysing 77 studies involving more than 5,600 children and care givers.

The success of this approach is due to its focus “on the crucial relationship” between young children and their care givers, the research by the Anna Freud Centre and commissioned by the Association of Child Psychotherapists (ACP) found.

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