Signs that Your Child Might Benefit from Working with a Child Therapist

If your child is acting out of character and you are worried about his or her behavior, taking him or her to see a child therapist for counseling may be a beneficial choice. Behavior that differs from his or her norm and that lasts for longer than two weeks can be a sign that he or she is struggling in some way.

A child therapist is a mental health professional who has been specifically trained to work with children and teens and to address issues that are harming their development, mental health, and overall well-being. He or she is equipped to assess and identify the root cause of your child’s distress, as well as equip you both with the needed tools for dealing with it healthily and productively.

Many of the issues children face, such as grief, anxiety, and depression, mimic issues faced by adults in their day-to-day lives as well, but a child therapist has the expertise to understand how young minds work, and how best to help children or teens make sense of what is going on by breaking problems down in a way that is easier for them to understand and cope with.

Some signs that your child may benefit from counseling.

Defiant behavior. 

Your child starts exhibiting behavior problems at home and/or school.

Excessive worry and/or sadness. 

Your child has been unusually sad and consumed by worried thoughts and feelings of hopelessness for an extended period even though there have not been any significant life transitions or changes in the family structure.

Sudden changes in sleep and/or eating habits. 

Your child has had a sudden loss of appetite, trouble sleeping, and/or been having nightmares or night terrors.

Social isolation. 

Your child has been withdrawing from activities he or she normally enjoys, avoiding play dates regularly, and not wanting to leave the house.

Regressive behavior.

Your child is exhibiting regressive behaviors such as bedwetting (when already potty trained), clinginess, and/or using baby talk.

Self-harm behaviors. 

Your child expresses suicidal thoughts or engages in self-harming behaviors such as cutting, head banging, or digging his or her nails into his or her skin.

Hearing voices. 

Your child talks about hearing voices in his or her head and acts on them.

Unwarranted Physical Complaints. 

Your child regularly complains of headaches, stomachaches, and/or other aches and pains, despite a diagnosis of good health from his or her doctor.

Common issues with which a child therapist can help.

• Mental illness.
• Psychological distress such as depression or anxiety.
• Grief, and adapting to difficult life transitions such as parents’ divorce, the death of a loved one or pet, and/or changing schools or homes.
• Witnessing or experiencing a traumatic event such as sexual, physical, and/or mental abuse, chronic illness, an act of terror, or a natural disaster.
• Bullying.
• Academic struggles.
• Substance abuse or addiction in the family.

If your child seems to be struggling mentally or emotionally and you have questions or would like to set up an appointment with one of the trained, faith-based child therapists in Heath, Texas, please don’t hesitate to give us a call at Heath Christian Counseling in Texas.