Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Children

CBT does not tell a child to think positively. It teaches them to notice a thought, test it, and change it when it does not hold.

İstanbul In person and online Free 15-min intro call

How it works

CBT rests on the idea that it is not the event but the meaning we give it that shapes how we feel and act. With children this link is not explained abstractly; it is made concrete through puppets, drawings, thought bubbles and feeling thermometers — an approach often called CBT-informed play therapy.

What it is used for

Anxiety disorders: separation anxiety, phobias, social anxiety, school refusal
Anger and impulse control difficulties
Low mood and negative self-image
Obsessive symptoms (with exposure and response prevention)
Exam and performance anxiety in adolescents

Core techniques

Emotion recognition and rating
Catching automatic thoughts
Testing the evidence for and against a thought
Graded exposure — the "courage ladder"
Behavioural experiments
Relaxation and breathing skills
Problem-solving steps

Change happens between sessions. Short, concrete weekly practice is part of the method, not an optional extra.

Ask about this Appointment form

Free

Let's talk for 15 minutes before you decide.

Starting therapy is a big decision. Let's meet first: tell me what is on your mind and I will tell you plainly whether ongoing work is needed and, if so, how we would proceed. You are not committing to anything.

Book on WhatsApp Use the form

What we talk aboutWhat you have noticed at home, and what worries you.
What you getA clear answer on whether ongoing work is needed.
How long15 minutes, by phone or video — whichever suits you.

S.S.S.

Frequently asked questions

From what age?

Structured CBT is generally used from age 7 upward. Below that, behavioural components and play-based adaptations are used, with more parent work.

How many sessions?

8–16 sessions is typical for a single focus; more where several areas are affected.

Is medication needed?

That is a physician's decision. In mild to moderate difficulties psychotherapy alone is often sufficient; in more severe presentations work is coordinated with a child psychiatrist.

Child & Adolescent Therapy

Individual therapy that works in the child's own language and keeps parents inside the process.

Play Therapy

What conversation is to adult therapy, play is to child therapy.

MOXO Attention Test

Turning an attention complaint into a measurement rather than an impression.

Appointment

A good day to talk it through.

You don't need to be sure. In a free 15-minute call, tell me what you have noticed and we will work out together whether ongoing work is needed.

Message on WhatsApp Use the appointment form +90 538 570 24 27