If there is any risk of self-harm or threat to harm others, take it seriously! Seek immediate help. In an emergency, call 911.
Parents seek counseling for their children for various reasons. Maybe your child is acting out behaviorally with tantrums or aggression. Maybe your family has gone through a difficult divorce or traumatic experience. Maybe your child feels sick frequently due to excessive worry. A counselor can help your child learn social and emotional skills to cope with life challenges and can help you strengthen your parenting skills.
If you have a specific concern in mind (talking back, emotional outbursts, stomachaches, aggression, nightmares, extreme shyness, etc.), has it lasted more than a few weeks? Is this problem happening everywhere (school, home, store)? Problems that occur in multiple places and continue over time suggest that professional assistance may be warranted.
Is your child meeting developmental milestones? Every child is unique and his/her development will be unique; however, it can be helpful to identify social-emotional skills your child may be lacking – the earlier the better. For children under 9 years old, PBS offers a Child Development Tracker that explains typical social-emotional growth for children by year.
Ask adults who interact with your child regularly (teacher, preschool caregiver, children’s pastor, school counselor, soccer coach, etc.) if they notice anything for concern and if your child has social-emotional skills comparable to same-age peers. Consult with your child’s pediatrician who can refer you to a mental health professional.
If you’re concerned, it is probably time to consider an assessment or initial consult with a mental health professional. There are different types of licensed mental health professionals – clinical social workers, marriage and family therapists, psychologists – whoever you choose should have a license to practice in their field. Read our next post to learn 3 simple ways to find a qualified therapist near you.
If you decide to seek counseling for your family, be careful not to give your child the impression that counseling is because he or she is “bad” or because something is wrong with him or her. Explain that everyone needs help with different things at different times, and a counselor is a safe listener who can help.
Here’s to healthy minds and spirits!
CLICK HERE to read about finding a counselor!
NIMH (2018). Children and mental health. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. NIH Publication No. 18-4702. Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/children-and-mental-health/index.shtml#pub5
PBS (2018). Child development tracker: Social and emotional growth. PBS Parents. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/parents/childdevelopmenttracker/eight/socialandemotionalgrowth.html