Thumb Sucking

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Welch on April 3, 2012 at 3:56am

Hi Ian, firstly I would ask what the kid wants to change and how she sees her thumb sucking I have a friend who is 30 and still does it, he likes it!!!?

If the girl is keen to stop the thumb sucking, sit down chat and use the fishing for thoughts technique to get some ideas and conversation going, then use any manner of techniques to help that you will find over on Kidsworks.

 

For me the whole thing with kids comes down to listening and listening some more engage and captivate their imagination in what you do make it interactive and collaborative , this is why stories and metaphor work so well and then whatever you decide to use keep it KISS.

Smiles Nath

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Permalink Reply by Chris Witherspoon on April 3, 2012 at 4:01am

Wouldn't this be like nail biting?  It seems to be a self soothing technique.

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Welch on April 3, 2012 at 4:40am

Hi Chris it is often a displacement activity and can often be used to sooth one self, it could also be just pure old habit/compulsion. Truth is the client knows  at some level why, so we listen to their narrative for the clues to get a guide for how best to proceed and to discover enough about who they are and how the function so we can pick the best way or better still create the best way with them to get a valued outcome.

Interestingly we all have self soothing actions/ habits mine are running and hoovering smiles Nath, 

Chris Witherspoon said:

Wouldn't this be like nail biting?  It seems to be a self soothing technique.

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Permalink Reply by Ian Williams on April 3, 2012 at 5:04am

Hi Nathan,

 

If she was to suggest she just likes doing this, would you change the feeling associated?

 

thanks

 

Ian

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Permalink Reply by Nathan Welch on April 3, 2012 at 6:23am

If she just likes doing it and is happy to do it, I would leave her to do it. Sometimes parents have the problem with the presenting problem not the kids!!!

If she wants to stop sucking her thumb then I would help her, if she doesnt then I would work with mum in accepting that fact.

When working with kids I always try to find exactly who has the problem or has a problem with the behaviour, and sometimes it is not the kid. I dont know if its true in this case, thats why a good old fashioned conversation and collaborative detective work helps us so much in finding the right way forward?

Smiles Nath

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Permalink Reply by Kelley Woods on April 3, 2012 at 6:24am

Ian,

Follow Nath's advice to utilize what your client brings and if the desire for change is present, ask her what she thinks will help. Sometimes kids (and adults!) are stuck for an answer, so I might ask, "Would it be alright if there was a different way to feel ______?"

I helped a 10 yr old stop thumb-sucking by planting the suggestion experientially that "Mr. (or Mrs.) Thumb" would, instead of moving up to the mouth, tuck right inside the palm and be covered nicely by the other fingers. I anchored that action to the sense of comfort that the girl was craving. Be sure to future pace and then test.

Keep it fun! Kelley

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Permalink Reply by Ian Williams on April 3, 2012 at 6:48am

Thanks Nath and Kelly,

 i wil take both your advice on board and look at what i come up with after speaking to the child.

 

Many thanks

 

Ian

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