Children and adolescents can experience mental, emotional, and behavioral problems similar to those of adults, but sometimes express them differently. They also tend to have problems specific to their age group, and often, they feel depressed, anxious, confused, or hopeless in response to their problems. They might be afraid to express their problems or the way they feel or think to their loved ones, peers, or others for different reasons, including fear of being judged or ridiculed or feeling that no one will understand them or their problems. Thus, therapy can help provide children and adolescents with a safe place to talk about their difficulties and learn effective strategies to overcome them without feeling judged. Further, I can help children and adolescents feel understood and reassure them that they are not alone in facing their problems because so many children and adolescents today face similar difficulties.
I encourage parents and caregivers strongly to learn how to recognize signs and symptoms of mental illness so they can get their child or adolescent appropriate treatment as soon as possible. When children and adolescents receive such treatment (i.e., therapy), they can learn ways to manage their symptoms of mental illness, develop healthy coping strategies, overcome their current and future problems, heal from their past traumatic experiences, change their negative self-talk and outlook, and so forth, all of which will help them as adults.
If you have noticed that your child or adolescent is, or might be, experiencing a mental, emotional, or behavioral problem, please contact me today!
“Our children are our future and one of the basic responsibilities is to care for them in the best and most compassionate manner possible.”
~ Nelson Mandela