Studies show that anxiety in today’s children is increasing. If your child is dealing with mental health struggles, it might be helpful for them to see a psychologist in Weston.
Weston Family Psychology offers anxiety, depression, and adolescent counseling and therapy. Contact us at (954) 384-1117 to learn more about how we can help you and your family using cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT).
What seems like a normal youth hardship may be the onset of something more serious. We’ve listed some situations below when it may be a good idea to seek professional help.
Your child is displaying symptoms of depression or anxiety
It's normal for kids to feel sad or irritable. But when a bad mood lasts for extended periods of time and other behavioral changes start to present themselves, it can be associated with depression or anxiety.
If you’ve noticed changes in your child's sleeping habits, eating schedule, energy levels, or school performance, CBT may be helpful.
Therapists usually create a safe and supportive environment where kids can feel free to open up about how they feel. They often use stories, games, workbooks, and other tools to help children feel at ease and get the most from therapy.
Your child experienced a traumatic event
Being involved in a distressing event can elicit overwhelming, confusing, and frightening emotions in children. They can shake your child's sense of security and leave them feeling helpless and vulnerable.
Even if a child or teen was not directly affected by an upsetting incident, they could still become traumatized when exposed to disturbing content on the news or social media.
Children can recover easier from trauma with proper treatment, such as trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (or TF-CBT). This involves talking, playing, and learning activities that all work together to heal trauma.
Over the course of several sessions, your child's therapist will be able to identify triggers, develop coping strategies, and alleviate symptoms in a safe and supportive environment.
Your child is having problems making friends
Friendships are an integral part of growing up; they're instrumental in a child’s social, emotional, psychological, and moral development.
Unfortunately, some children and adolescents struggle with making friends. This results in loneliness and unhappiness, making the young ones more likely to underperform in school.
If your child is having trouble establishing or maintaining relationships, take a closer look at how they interact with others and see if you need to intervene.
A psychologist may be able to help them with their language and communication issues. Through CBT, your young one may learn appropriate skills and emerge feeling more confident.
You're in the middle of a divorce or separation
Children may feel confused, scared, angry, and worried when their parents divorce or go through a separation. Not only has the stability of the household been shaken, but the future becomes uncertain, and the child is forced to adjust to major changes.
Such difficult times can lead to aggression, separation anxiety issues, and a drop in social and school performance. It also increases stress levels in children who already suffer from anxiety issues or mood disorders and can raise anxiety-related concerns in children who did not originally have them.
If you're going through a divorce, consider taking your child to a therapist to help them cope. Divorce counseling for children typically makes use of CBT. Through this, children can learn to influence their emotions in a positive way so they can feel better about things they can’t change.
Becoming aware of negative thinking allows your child to switch to a more positive perspective, thereby decreasing their anxiety.
Conclusion
If your child is going through a challenging time, they may benefit from seeing a therapist and undergoing CBT. This is because CBT can be used in divorce counseling to better assist children to reevaluate distressful thoughts and incorporate fresh perspectives with the challenging situation.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch with a mental health professional to get your child the support that they deserve.
At Weston Family Psychology, we are here to make it easier for your children to talk and embrace life again. If you want to learn more about counseling for anxiety, depression, and trauma, feel free to contact us at (954) 384-1117 or drop a message here.
