How to provide psychological therapy for children who are afraid after watching horror movies
Nov 14, 2025
Source: Cainiu Health
Dr. Zhang Baohua
Introduction
When children feel afraid after watching horror movies, psychological interventions may generally include empathetic listening to help vent emotions, gradual exposure to reduce fear, cognitive restructuring to correct negative thoughts, providing companionship to build a sense of security, and play therapy to divert attention. Patiently listen as the child expresses their fears, acknowledge their feelings of fear without dismissing or mocking them, respond with gentle language, and help the child release their emotions.
When children feel scared after watching horror movies, psychological interventions such as empathetic listening to help emotional regulation, gradual exposure to reduce fear, cognitive restructuring to correct negative thoughts, companionship to build a sense of security, and play therapy to divert attention can generally be used. Specific methods are analyzed as follows:
1. Empathetic Listening for Emotional Support: Patiently listen as the child expresses their fears, acknowledge their feelings of fear without dismissing or mocking them, and respond with gentle language to help the child release emotions and relieve psychological stress.
2. Gradual Exposure to Reduce Fear: Begin with mild content related to the horror movie that the child can tolerate—such as retelling gentler scenes—and gradually decrease the child's sensitivity to frightening elements. Avoid direct exposure to fear-inducing stimuli, which may intensify anxiety.
3. Cognitive Restructuring to Correct Negative Beliefs: Use age-appropriate language to explain that the content in horror movies is fictional and different from real life. Help the child distinguish between fantasy and reality, reducing concerns about the realism of scary scenes.
4. Companionship to Build Security: Be present with the child when they are afraid. Use physical contact such as hugging or holding hands to convey safety, reassure the child that they are protected, and strengthen their sense of security to alleviate fear.
5. Play Therapy to Divert Attention: Engage the child in light-hearted and enjoyable activities such as building blocks, puzzles, or role-playing games. Redirect their focus away from frightening images toward positive experiences, helping to ease fear and anxiety.
In daily life, avoid exposing children to horror content again and choose age-appropriate films and TV programs. Pay close attention to changes in the child’s emotions, intervene promptly if signs of fear appear, and support the child in developing a positive and healthy psychological state.
