Things at home have been different lately. You start noticing behaviors and attitudes you have never seen from your child before, but you aren’t sure if you understand why. Sometimes inquiring about their mental health can be difficult, either getting an “I’m fine” or no response. You feel lost, worried, and unsure of where to go from here. Now may be the time to seek out a therapist for your child.
It may seem scary at first; any parent or caretaker would likely feel the same. Your child is going through changes that you have never seen before, and now you are being told they need professional help. Common stigmas around therapy include beliefs that there is something “seriously wrong” or that you are “severely mentally ill” if you are seeking out therapy. These are, of course, myths and extremely incorrect. Therapy is for everyone, just as anyone who was feeling physically sick would go see a doctor to find treatment or an understanding of their illness. Instead of avoiding therapy because of these stigmas, we can try to better understand what benefits therapy can provide to the people in our lives and us.
- Major shifts in mood and behavior
Deciphering between concerning behavior changes and typical development isn’t always as clear as it may seem. Defiance in a child may simply be them showing signs that they are growing up or even starting puberty. But when do behavioral changes start to warrant therapeutic help? Some drastic changes that are important to address could be sleep disturbances, shifts in appetite or loss of appetite entirely, aggressive or short-tempered reactions, feelings of loneliness or despair, or even symptoms related to physical health that can’t seem to be linked to a medical cause.
- Tantrums have become a daily part of their routine.
Tantrums are a sign that your child is experiencing overwhelming emotions that they don’t know how to handle. These emotions can be misplaced in multiple different aspects of their life, even in simple tasks such as getting ready for school or doing a homework assignment. When intense feelings go unchecked and untreated, they tend to find ways to creep into a child’s daily life, making it very difficult for them to handle anything extra that may be expected of them. This specific warning sign also warrants keeping age in mind, as a small child who only seems to have infrequent tantrums may just be part of them still figuring out how to express themselves and communicate.
- They no longer want to go to school or socialize at all.
Your child comes home from school seeming stressed and irritable. When you ask them what’s wrong, they shout that they hate school or don’t even respond at all. These behaviors, especially if they are drastically different from their normal behaviors, could indicate that your child is struggling to socialize at school or feeling unsafe in the environment. They may share that they don’t have any friends at school and feel like everyone is a bully. This can lead to social withdrawal and leave your child feeling isolated from their peers. A stronger indicator of isolation could be a loss of interest in things they usually love, such as activities or hobbies. As children get older, it can be natural for them to want some alone time throughout the day. However, if it has gotten to the stage where they are almost completely withdrawn socially, a therapist would be an important resource for the purpose of best helping your child.
- Major events have happened in your child’s life that demand change.
Has your child recently experienced the loss of a loved one? Have they had to move schools, experience a divorce in the family, or other substantial lifestyle changes? These changes can be incredibly difficult for someone of any age to experience, let alone a child who may not even fully understand concepts such as death and divorce. Due to the severity of drastic lifestyle changes, a child may find difficulty functioning in other components of their life, such as applying effort and focus at school. These changes alone may require a therapist to help your child through, whether or not you have started seeing symptoms stemming from them.
What’s the Next Step?
Identifying the issue is a great first step in your journey towards helping your child thrive. If you have been noticing any of these signs and are feeling like therapy may be a good option for them, consider contacting Sensory Stepping Stones to set up a free consultation. We have many esteemed therapists who could be a great fit for your child. You can learn about the many different types of therapies we have to offer, such as our alternative therapy programs, Psychotherapy, social-emotional wellness groups, and more. Being there for your child during this process and including them in understanding the benefits of therapy can help in making them feel as comfortable as they can be once they are ready to start!
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Francesca Leone is a staff member at Sensory Stepping Stones. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY New Paltz. She is currently pursuing her Master’s Degree of Social Work at SUNY Binghamton and is expected to graduate in Spring of 2028.
