Signs That Your Child Needs Counseling

Just like adults, every 1 out of 10 children also faces emotional disturbances, mood disorders, and mental disorders. Illnesses like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and psychotic disorders can be treated with the help of psychotherapy.

Children often are unable to express themselves, which leads them to isolation and gloominess.

National estimates suggest that in the United States, more than 4 million children are diagnosed with anxiety and 2 million with depression. Among all the children diagnosed with mental illnesses, only 20% are getting proper treatments.

However, it is a challenge for parents to identify whether their children are in need of counselling or not and must seek professional help.

When to reach out for a Therapist

Most of the time, the changes in the mood of children are normal and do not require any professional help. However, these psychological fluctuations can turn out to be more serious.

Such behaviors can vary from child to child. Experts have highlighted those behaviors that are the indications of psychological disorders in children; some of them are explained as under:

1- Social introversion

Children are always active and inclined towards physical activities. Youngsters feel pleasure in their friend circle and playdates.

However, if your kid is reluctant to such activities and is socially isolated, then you might need to worry about him/her.

Nevertheless, before seeking help from any psychological practitioner, parents themselves should communicate and make their children feel free to express themselves.

Social isolation is a major sign of depression for adults as well as children.

Therefore, parents must pay attention to their children’s social behavior to retrieve them from any kind of further losses.

2- Negative behavior and hopelessness

At a young age, children are enthusiastic and full of life. Their optimistic behavior is the sign of a healthy mental state. But, if your child is showing negative conduct in various aspects of life, then you should opt for immediate professional help.

A child being hopeless and vocal about suicide is considered as a red flag.

Any child showing such symptoms is in need of emotional support.

Psychotherapy helps reduce such emotional imbalances. Parents instantly can understand the change in their child’s behavior.

Therefore they are told to trust their instincts and reach out for help.

3- Bleak and inexplicable fall in academic grades

A sudden fall in a child’s grades at school is also one of the signs of anxiety. Progressing well in his/her studies is surely a child with normal mental health.

But an unexplained drop in the performance in academics is an alarming situation.

First, parents themselves should look for reasons behind this situation and communicate with their children. After being unsuccessful they can seek professional help. Being in contact with the child’s teachers and friends can also help parents in understanding their children better.

4- Self-harm

Children suffering from mental disorders often engage in self-harm. This is one of those symptoms which cannot be ignored and must be taken seriously.

Children often try to hide that they have been hurting themselves. If you come across such a habit of your child, you must contact a child psychologist to treat and counsel your child.

Learn more about what to do if your child is cutting.

Treatments

Experts have come up with various treatments for kids facing mental disorders. These include psychodynamic psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, play therapy, and behavior therapy.

Most of the time, conversing with your child and discussing problems with your partners can also prove to be helpful.

Few of the treatments for such children are listed below:

1- Parental support

A great Child counsellor suggests preferring parental support and communication over any professional help.

Mostly, children feel free to express and discuss their problems with their parents. Taking children to therapists often makes them think negatively about themselves.

To avoid such suspicions, first parents should communicate and make their child feel free to reveal their problems.

While at times, parents are surprised about their child’s inclination and excitement towards professional help. As children are unable to discuss their feelings and worries with their parents, they find it easy to talk about it to professionals.

2- Play therapy

Different issues like divorce or any other trauma can lead to a young age depression. Psychotherapists provide children with various toys to play with and try to understand their emotional and mental states.

Play therapy is one of the most effective therapies. Different types of play and toys help the therapists to examine the child’s feeling better.

With the help of play therapy psychotherapists further, find ways to treat the child and make him/her feel better. Only this therapy can also be used to treat children but at times, medication and other therapies are also associated with the treatment.

3- Cognitive-behavioral therapy

Disorders like anxiety and depression can be treated with the help of cognitive-behavioral therapy.

In this type of therapy, the child is taught how to point out their negative suspicions that affect their mental health.

This is a short-termed therapy that mainly helps the child to identify those patterns of thoughts and behavior that are causing them psychological issues.

Thus, making them feel better and help them in changing their negative behavior.

Conclusion: 

Adults consider childhood as carefree and enjoyable but this is not true for all children.

In 2011-2012, more than 1 in 20 US children were suffering from depression and anxiety.

There are various stressors that lead to young age mental illnesses.

Parents can keep a check on their behavior by maintaining regular contact with their friends and tutors.

Some signs and symptoms included are suicide attempts, mood swings, change in sleeping patterns, and loss of interest in joyful activities.

If you come to know about any such symptoms in your child then you should immediately seek for professional counsellor help.

Parents should always feel free to talk to the doctor or therapist about their children.