How do I know if my child needs therapy?
Everyone wants the best for their children. When it comes to mental health, sometimes it is hard to tell if something is a real issue or just a phase.
Children of all ages go through difficult periods where they need guidance. And parents can also benefit from an outsider’s perspective on their children’s behaviors.
Here are a few things to look for when assessing if it is time to seek a professional opinion:
A sudden change in behavior: Your once outgoing daughter is now going to her room and not coming out for hours on end. She doesn’t want to talk to you or anyone else about it and you aren’t sure how to help her. Or your very smart son who loved school now refuses to go and won’t turn in his homework. Sudden changes usually signal that something else is going on.
Appetite or sleep changes: A child who ate every meal just fine is now no longer hungry at mealtimes. Or your teen is extremely tired during the day and wants to come home and take naps after school when before he had a lot of energy.
Expressing feelings of excessive sadness or worry: Your carefree child is now worried about social situations, talks about new fears, or appears sad frequently. They could benefit from talking, or playing these feelings out in therapy.
Isolation: Not wanting to join the family for meals and activities, or declining multiple invitations from peers can be a signal that your child is isolating. There are many reasons for this, but getting to the bottom of it may help them feel more comfortable interacting again.
Increased physical complaints: Children and teens who suddenly have stomach aches, headaches or other ailments that are not better explained by a physical reason can be caused by a mental health disturbance.
Major life changes: After a move, a family member or pet’s death, divorce or many other life transitions is a great time to set up your child to speak with a therapist. Major life changes can bring up many feelings, and having a place to safely express those can make such a huge difference.
Trauma: Experiencing a trauma is a definitely reason to seek therapy. Mental health professionals are trained to treat and begin to heal traumas. Make sure you talk with your therapist beforehand about the specific trauma at hand to be certain they have expertise working in that area. This may reduce your need to move to another therapist with more experience.
These are just 7 of the many reasons to seek the help from a therapist. Adults go to therapy for many of these reasons, so it only makes sense that children would too!
You know your child better than anyone. If you think something is going on that could be better worked through in a therapeutic setting, give me a call. We can talk about the goodness of fit for your child’s particular situation. I’m happy to answer any questions you or your child may have. Starting a therapy journey is exciting and nerve-wracking, I get it!