Therapy for Children & Adolescents
Parents, do you need help managing depression/anxiety during the COVID-19 crisis?
There are many reasons why parents contact us to begin treatment for their children. Parents will often call us out of concern for their children because they are observing out of character behaviors and or emotions from them.
Sometimes the child themselves will ask to see a therapist and the parent is contacting us on behalf of their request. Occasionally, parents are expecting an increase in stress in the child's environment such as an upcoming family illness, death, blending of a family, or divorce, and the parents want to prepare the child to cope appropriately.
Additionally, at times other service providers have made a recommendation to the parents, such as teachers, physicians, coaches, or other family members to seek out treatment for their child. Whatever the reason, we understand that this can be a difficult and anxiety-provoking process for the family and child, but we're here for you every step of the way.
Licensed Mental Health Professionals
As mental health providers, it is our duty to work as a team with the family to decrease this anxiety and develop an appropriate treatment plan that best fits the needs of the family and child. There are various concerns that bring a family into treatment and we will identify some of the more common ones below. Let us help give your child the emotional support they need to thrive in life transitions and life no matter the mental health condition. Whether it's Teen Counseling, mental illness, or other mental health conditions we have a licensed professional counselor for you.
Behavioral Concerns
There are a variety of reasons why children behave in ways that are uncharacteristic. These behaviors may be observed in school, at home, with their peers, or in other environments in which the child has contact. Parents may notice:
- an increase in worry or fears
- obsessional thinking or compulsive behaviors such as rituals or repetitive behaviors
- isolating from family or friends
- becoming more irritable or angry
- becoming aggressive towards peers and family
- losing interest in previously enjoyed activities
- decrease in grades or motivation to complete tasks and homework
- self-injury behaviors such as cutting
- crying more often
- becoming defiant at school or home
- sleeping less or more
- an increase or decrease in appetite
- being disruptive at school
- talking about suicide
The list goes on but these are just several examples. These behaviors may occur as a result of anxiety, depression, ADHD, boredom, attention-seeking, an unidentified experienced trauma, learning disability, oppositional defiance, or even grief. These behaviors are often scary for parents or caregivers because they can recognize the child's behavioral change, yet lack understanding of why it may be occurring. This is often when parents seek out help.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
ADHD is a common disorder that most often develops during early developmental years. While parents or other adults who have contact with the child, may see various behaviors in a young child, it is most often not diagnosed prior to entering elementary school. Many practitioners will not diagnose before the age of six.
Many parents or teachers will observe a lack of focus and concentration in the child. Adults may have to ask the child several times to complete one task. They may notice the child "daydreaming" or focusing on things that are irrelevant to the task at hand. Parents will often describe impulsive behaviors such as saying or doing things without thinking about the consequences of their actions.
Parents will also describe the child's inability to sit still and is often in constant motion. Parents may also report that they see their child exhibit behaviors that are representative of or be able to report feeling overwhelmed, anxious, or depressed. There are three forms of ADHD, inattentive, hyperactive, and combined type.
School Concerns
Parents will often become worried when they start to learn about changes in school behaviors from their children. There may be a change in grades, decrease in motivation to complete homework, difficulty understanding their homework and lessons learned in school, forgetting to turn in homework, refusing to attend school, reporting an increase in illness that prevents them from attending school, or increased peer conflict.
These are just some of the concerns that we hear from parents. Again, the reason for these school concerns may vary from anxiety, depression, a learning disability, bullying, ADHD, an unidentified trauma, and family discord, to substance abuse, peer pressure, and self-esteem issues. Regardless of the reason, change in behavior for children and adolescents is often evidence that an underlying concern exists.
Autism Spectrum Disorders
Parents will often seek out mental health treatment for their child who has been given a previous diagnosis of what was formerly named Asperger's Syndrome and is now diagnosed as Autism Spectrum Disorder. Parents may also seek out treatment for their child who may be displaying characteristics of this diagnosis, however do not have the diagnosis or do not know what is going on with their child but suspect that something is not right.
There are various treatment interventions for children on the spectrum. These interventions are based on the severity of the disorder. Applied Behavioral Analysis is an extremely effective intervention for those children with a more severe form of Autism. Those children who are higher functioning can benefit from different forms of talk therapy.
Typical reasons for seeking out treatment may be to:
- Gain Social Skills When Interacting With Peers And Adults
- Learn To Cope With Anxiety And Possible Depression
- Learn Activities Of Daily Living Skills
- Cope With Obsessions Which Are Characteristic Of The Disorder]
- Learn A Healthy Way To Cope
- Often How To Change Patterns Of Thinking That May Be More Productive For The Child
Mental Health Services and Therapy for Teens
Adolescence can be a tough time, and it's no wonder that so many teens struggle with mental health issues such as anxiety and depression. Fortunately, there is help available. Therapy can provide teens with the tools they need to navigate the challenges of adolescence and develop healthy coping skills. Mental health services can also offer support for families who are struggling to cope with a teen's mental health issues.
If you're concerned about a teen in your life, don't hesitate to reach out for help. With the right support, they can get through this tough time and emerge stronger than ever.
Family Therapy
Many families seeking therapy for their teen or child are faced with a lot of choices, one being if the parents participate. One of the first decisions that need to be made is what type of therapy will be best for the family. There are many different types of family therapy, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. Some of the most common types of group therapy include systemic therapy, Cognitive Behavior Therapy, and Solution-focused therapy. Therapists who specialize in working with families can help to create an environment that is conducive to healing and growth. A family therapist can be a valuable tool for helping families to overcome challenges and grow closer together.
Starting therapy can help with such areas as:
- Ongoing Power Struggles
- Defiance
- Behavioral Issues
- Communication
- Connections and A Deeper Understanding
- Sibling Rivalry
- Family Conflicts
- Trauma
- Dealing With Changes Such As Health Problems
- Establishing Family Rules And Connections
Do You Have Questions About Insurance?
Your financial situation shouldn't be a barrier to you living a happier life. We accept a wide range of insurance plans and offer sliding scale rates to make sure you can get the treatment you need from licensed mental health professionals. Call now for a free consultation.
