Child and Adolescent Counseling

When Does Your Child Need a Therapist? As a parent, you are likely to be the first to recognize changes in your child's behavior. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, there are warning signs that indicate that your child is having difficulty, and may benefit from a psychiatric evaluation/counseling. Signs that the child might need professional help:

• Long periods of sadness
• Living in the past
• Withdrawn behavior
• Problems saying goodbye to parents                                                                                                             
• Changes in daily habits
• Return to younger behavior
• Feeling a sense of responsibility or guilt
• Feeling angry
• Temper tantrums

At times, children may display the behaviors noted above. If a problem starts suddenly after a divorce, death, or other stressful event, the child may need extra help. Getting help is  especially important if:  

  • The signs are more extreme than you normally see in other children, or      

  • They last day after day or week after week, or        

  • You or the parents have tried to work with the child, but the problems continue.

Therapy can help children resolve current problems, as well as provide tools to cope with life challenges later on. Unresolved problems or disorders can impede a child's development or trigger emotional states that cause trauma for the child, the parents, and the family. The effects may be long lasting. Providing treatment for your child is an important step in healing for all family members.

Disclaimer: The information on this site is intended for educational purposes only, not for diagnosis and treatment and is not intended as a substitute for consultation with a qualified mental health professional that is familiar with your situation. There is also no guarantee being made as a result of information provided or the counseling services offered.