For children and young people, it can sometimes be difficult to understand their feelings, cope with emotions, or process challenges at home or school. A conversation with a psychologist can help, and there's no need to wait until problems escalate. Delfien, a first-line psychologist affiliated with vzw Kijoco, is active at the Huis van het Kind in Riemst.
As a first-line psychologist (ELP), Delfien offers short-term support. Together with the child, young person, or family, she assesses the difficulties, identifies needs, and determines what can be achieved in the short term. She explains how our brains work, why we get overstimulated, how feelings arise, and how to manage them. The goal is to provide practical tools and strengthen the child's or young person's own capabilities.
Young people can approach her with a wide range of concerns, such as feeling down, difficulty making friends, insecurity, low self-esteem, trouble understanding or expressing emotions, frequent anger, or problems at school or home. If it becomes apparent that more specialized help is needed, she collaborates with them to find the most suitable support.
Parents can also come with questions about their child's behavior or how best to support them. Parents are involved during the process, typically by briefly discussing the session's content at the end and advising on how to offer further support at home.
Taking the step towards psychological help is not always easy. Delfien emphasizes that every problem is valid and there's no need to wait until things are dire. First-line psychological support is accessible and government-funded. Young people up to 23 years old can receive up to ten free sessions per year. If the issues are more complex than initially thought, assistance is provided in finding more specialized or long-term care.
Anyone needing help doesn't have to face it alone. An initial conversation at the Huis van het Kind Riemst (St.-Jansstraat 8D, 3770 Riemst) can help assess the situation and determine the necessary support. Appointments are available every Thursday afternoon. More information can be found at www.eerstelijnszone.be/eerstelijnspsycholoog or via email: delfien.vanermen@kijoco.be.
