Psychological Therapy for Children in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia

At our practice downtown (Edificio Don Alcides), we offer child psychotherapy. We understand how distressing it is to see your child suffer, and we work as a team with the family.

How do we work with CBT for children?

Our psychologists use play-based Cognitive Behavioral Therapy. Children learn to manage their emotions (“tantrums,” fears) through play, while parents receive practical parenting tools. Our office is located downtown.

Common issues we treat:

• Tantrums and defiant behavior
• Separation anxiety
• Difficulties at school (bullying)
• Grief or parents’ divorce
• Sleep problems and fears
• ADHD and concentration

Parent Guidance

We don’t work only with the child. A fundamental part of the process is guiding parents with positive parenting tools.

Ages we see and our approach at each stage of development

We see children and teens from 4 to 17 years old, in person in downtown Santa Cruz or through online therapy from anywhere in Bolivia when the family needs it, adapting the therapeutic approach to each stage of development:

• 4 to 7 years (preschool and early elementary school): mainly non-directive, symbolic play therapy. Children express emotions and conflicts through play while the therapist interprets and reorganizes that material to support emotional regulation.
• 8 to 12 years (upper elementary school): we combine structured play with adapted cognitive behavioral techniques: psychoeducation about emotions, simple thought records, relaxation techniques. Children take an active part in setting goals.
• 13 to 17 years (adolescents): a mainly verbal approach with adapted CBT techniques, focusing on self-esteem, emotional regulation, social media use, and academic and social pressure. Confidentiality with respect to parents is explicitly agreed at the start of the process. If you are considering this step, our guide on when a teenager needs a psychologist in Santa Cruz explains the warning signs and how to approach the first appointment.

At every age, sessions last about 60 minutes.

What is the first session with a child like?

The first session is with the parents only (or main caregivers), without the child. We spend that hour understanding the history: the reason for seeking help, developmental background, family dynamics, the school situation and any previous assessments. Parents leave with a first clinical impression, clarity about how the process will work, and concrete guidance for preparing the child.

How to introduce the process to your child (for parents): explain that they will be going to a place where they can play, draw and talk with a psychologist who helps children with things that worry them. Avoid pathologizing language (“you’re going because you misbehave,” “you’re going because you have a problem”). That puts the child on the defensive. Better: “you’re going to meet someone who can help you feel better about [what is going on].”

From the second session on, the child joins. The first 2 or 3 sessions with the child are for bonding and exploration: play-based work that helps them feel safe before the reason for seeking help is addressed directly.

The active role of parents in the process

Child therapy doesn’t work if parents don’t take part. We schedule parent guidance sessions every 4 to 6 of the child’s sessions, ideally with both parents present (even when the parents are separated, if feasible). In those sessions we review:

• How the child is doing at home between sessions
• Which behavioral tools to apply (positive reinforcement, managing consequences, emotional regulation routines)
• Coordination with the school when relevant (with written authorization)
• Parenting style: reducing yelling, labels or physical punishment

Coordination with the school: if the reason for seeking help involves school performance, classroom behavior or bullying, we offer to communicate with the school psychologist or homeroom teacher through written professional reports that you review and authorize before they are delivered. This strengthens the intervention plan and avoids mixed messages.

When child therapy alone is NOT the right fit

If the family dynamic involves active conflict between the parents (a contested divorce, domestic violence, parental alliances against the child), individual work with the child will have limited effect until the family as a system stabilizes. In those cases we refer the family to family or couples therapy in parallel, or suggest that intervention before starting the child’s individual process. Being transparent about this is part of how we work: we don’t start a process that is set up to fail.