This is how you know when your child needs therapy

This is how you know when your child needs therapy

If your child has been struggling for a while, is having difficulty at school, appears different at home than at school, or is contradicting his or her personality, therapy specifically tailored to children can help overcome these challenges. Most children experience difficulties from time to time as they grow up. Some of these challenges are physical (their changing bodies), some are mental (their schoolwork), some are social (their friendships), some are environmental (their personal lives), and some are spiritual (their religious affiliation). For some children, these challenges are easy to overcome and they continue to have a positive outlook for their future. For other children, these challenges become roadblocks and they appear to be stuck in a negative cycle.

As a parent, it is important to understand your child's challenges and how to best motivate and encourage them to maintain a healthy relationship with them. Children take their cues from their parents. If a challenge is overwhelming for the parent, the child is likely to respond similarly. However, if a parent is understanding, concerned, and empathetic, the child is likely to respond positively. Sometimes just being aware of your child's challenges and how best to deal with them makes all the difference in your relationship.

If your child has been dealing with abuse, developmental problems, attention deficit disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, oppositional defiant disorder, mood disorders, or post-traumatic stress disorder, therapy is beneficial for both the parent and the child. Other struggles include social pressure, divorce, depression, anger, eating disorders, addiction, self-harm and grief. Some of the signs that your child may need therapy include:

• Veränderung des Appetits
• nervöser als sonst
• Konzentrationsschwierigkeiten
• Probleme in der Schule
• aggressiv oder wütend
• Albträume
• Schlafstörungen
• Stimmungsschwankungen
• scheint deprimiert zu sein
• laute geräusche sind störend
• Rückfall in jüngeres Verhalten
• sich weigern zu sprechen
• befürchtet Trennung von den Eltern
• wechsel bei freunden
• sozial zurückgezogen
• Persönlichkeitsveränderung
• Problem beim Lebensübergang (Tod in der Familie, Scheidung, Umzug, neue Schule)

Most of the time, therapy is not a long process for a child as they adapt and adapt more quickly than adults. Combining parent and child therapy is doubly beneficial because it helps the entire family be on the same page. If therapy is not provided in a timely manner, some of the challenges can be so overwhelming for a child that they feel defeated and this belief can last a lifetime. It is never too late to begin the therapy process with your child; it's just too late if it never started.

Inspired by Christine M Hammond