A question I am frequently asked is, “How do I know if my child needs therapy?” Here are some guidelines that you can use to help with that decision.
*You have that feeling that something ‘just isn’t right’.
*You have concerns about your child’s social and emotional development.
*You may observe your child interacting with peers and notice strong differences.
*Your child has recently displayed behavior at school that warranted a phone call home. There is an underlying pattern to the behavior that you can’t seem to ‘fix’.
*Your family has undergone a trauma such as a death in the family, a job loss or divorce. Your child seems to have ‘changed’ since the event and is reluctant to discuss his/her feelings with you.
*Your child seems angry and unhappy much of the time.
*The counselor at your child’s school has recommended that you seek outside therapy for your child.
*How about teens? Parents of teens know the feeling of looking at the closed bedroom door and wondering if they really know what’s going on behind it. They will frequently call and say, “I think I know everything that’s going on, but I just want to make sure.” Teens are tricky in the best of times. Many perfectly typical teens are surly, resistant to help and can backtalk with the best of them. Often it takes a professional to sort out whether there is actually something to worry about. Teens can also benefit from therapy if they are struggling with issues surrounding graduation, and the loss of their ‘highschool’ self. Anxieties can also creep up surrounding going to college or work; another stressful time in one’s life.
Still not sure? Call a therapist and ask. Most will offer you a brief phone consultation free of charge. Explain the situation and get their expert opinion. You’ll be glad you did!
*You have that feeling that something ‘just isn’t right’.
*You have concerns about your child’s social and emotional development.
*You may observe your child interacting with peers and notice strong differences.
*Your child has recently displayed behavior at school that warranted a phone call home. There is an underlying pattern to the behavior that you can’t seem to ‘fix’.
*Your family has undergone a trauma such as a death in the family, a job loss or divorce. Your child seems to have ‘changed’ since the event and is reluctant to discuss his/her feelings with you.
*Your child seems angry and unhappy much of the time.
*The counselor at your child’s school has recommended that you seek outside therapy for your child.
*How about teens? Parents of teens know the feeling of looking at the closed bedroom door and wondering if they really know what’s going on behind it. They will frequently call and say, “I think I know everything that’s going on, but I just want to make sure.” Teens are tricky in the best of times. Many perfectly typical teens are surly, resistant to help and can backtalk with the best of them. Often it takes a professional to sort out whether there is actually something to worry about. Teens can also benefit from therapy if they are struggling with issues surrounding graduation, and the loss of their ‘highschool’ self. Anxieties can also creep up surrounding going to college or work; another stressful time in one’s life.
Still not sure? Call a therapist and ask. Most will offer you a brief phone consultation free of charge. Explain the situation and get their expert opinion. You’ll be glad you did!