5 Reasons Parents Seek Therapy: Do you see any signs?

There will be times where an unexpected stressor occurs, child's negative behaviors increase, or you and your family experience a traumatic event that you are unsure of what to do or where to turn for support.

Maybe the school has mentioned inattention and struggling to focus. Maybe it runs in the family. Maybe a loved one passed away. Maybe parenting can become a bigger stressor than anticipated. When you start to see an increase in socially inappropriate, unhelpful, and noncompliant behaviors you may want to get another, licensed professional to provide support and another evidenced based viewpoint.

Here are the top 5 reasons why most parents seek out therapy for their children:

1. Behavioral Issues: Parents will often seek therapy for their children if they are exhibiting disruptive or harmful behavior such as acting out, aggression, defiance, or depression. These behaviors may impact their growth in social relationships and educational learning.

2. Mental Health Concerns: Mental health issues such as anxiety, depression, and ADHD can also lead parents to seek therapy for their children. Parents may see that their child is struggling to focus and become more inattentive as well as unable to maintain close relationships.

3. Trauma: Traumatic events such as abuse, neglect, or loss can impact a child's well-being and lead parents to seek therapy to help their child heal. Childhood trauma refers to any negative experience that can have a lasting impact on a child's emotional and psychological well-being, and that early intervention and treatment can help mitigate these effects and promote healing and recovery.

4. Learning or Developmental Challenges: Parents may seek therapy for their children if they are struggling in school or experiencing developmental delays. Executive Functioning Disorders, Speech and Language Disorders, and Emotional and Behavioral Disorders can impact a child's ability to succeed in school and maintain positive relationships with peers and teachers.

5. Family Issues: Family conflicts, divorce, or changes in family structure can be difficult for children to navigate and may lead parents to seek therapy to help their child cope.

There are many options out there when looking for a family therapist. Be sure to find one that fits your family's needs and personality! Sessions can go well when the modality aligns with your values and goals as well as appear sincere and knowledgeable. Hopefully your therapist gets along with children, most go into these positions having a personality that goes well with building rapport with kiddos!

There are various types of therapy that can be effective for children with mental health concerns, including:

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) - helps children recognize and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.

2. Play Therapy - uses play as a therapeutic tool to help children express their feelings and experiences.

3. Family Therapy - focuses on improving communication and relationships within the family.

4. Psychodynamic Therapy - explores a child's unconscious thoughts and emotions to gain insight into their behavior and relationships.

5. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) - teaches children mindfulness and acceptance skills to help them cope with difficult emotions.

6. Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) - a type of therapy that uses eye movements to help process traumatic experiences.

7. Art Therapy - allows children to express themselves creatively, helping them to process emotions and develop coping skills.

Which one is best for you and your family? It's important to note that not all types of therapy will be suitable for every child, and it's important to work with a mental health professional to determine the best approach for a particular child's needs.