Alexandra Bruynsteen

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Children and young people each grow into unique individuals. Yet, their development isn't always easy. In today's society, much is expected of them. They have to perform in all sorts of areas, and it seems that children are sometimes forced to grow into adults (too) quickly. Consequently, children and young people experience a range of emotions that they don't always understand and find difficult to deal with. They can't or don't want to talk about them and become stuck in their growth process. This can lead to fear of failure, feeling unwell, low self-esteem, negative thoughts, behavioral difficulties, and numerous other problems.

Whatever difficulties children and young people experience throughout their identity development, sometimes they need a place to regain balance and find peace. My practice, "Child and Adolescent Psychology," offers this opportunity.
As a child psychologist, I act as a coach who encourages children and young people to blossom, discover their strengths, and develop their own unique identity. Together, we search for their unique place among others and rebuild relationships within a broader context; this could be within the family, school, or themselves. We search for a "language" that offers children and young people the opportunity to rediscover themselves in a playful and creative way and to uniquely promote their well-being in everyday life. Children and young people can therefore receive individual psychological guidance and coaching. The main goal of this consultation is to give children and young people a boost so they can subsequently chart their own personal path and find their own identity.

Moreover, raising children and adolescents isn't always easy. As parents, we sometimes face uncertainties and doubts about our child's behavior or our approach to parenting. We're bombarded with well-intentioned advice from the wider community or the opinions of "experts" in the media. Precisely because every child is different and every context so diverse, finding the approach that works for your family is a difficult process. Moreover, as parents, we may wonder whether a certain behavior or emotional state is problematic or not. As a parent, you're right in the thick of it and have gradually grown accustomed to the situation. That's why, as a child psychologist, I believe it's important that parents, siblings, or any other important support figure are involved in their child's process and support the therapy. I therefore attach great importance to consulting with relevant services and referral sources (such as psychiatrists, doctors, speech therapists, diagnostic and guidance centers, schools, CLBs, etc.). In addition to individual guidance for children and young people, there is also the possibility of parenting support for parents and family therapy.