Does My Child Need Therapy? Signs to Look Out For

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Does my child need therapy? It’s not really a thought many parents want to have, and in all honesty, it’s a scary position to be in. Knowing your child needs help that you can’t give them and worrying if they’re ok, if they’re safe, and what is best for them.

But nearly 20% of kids in the US right now have an emotional, mental, developmental, or behavioral disorder that leaves them struggling more than they need to be.

If you’re concerned about your child or you think they might need professional therapy, here are a few signs that could be telling you this is the right course of action for them.

Significant Changes in Sleep Habits or Hygiene

You will know your child’s baseline. For how they normally look after themselves, what they do on a day, how they sleep, etc., any deviation from this is a warning. It could be isolated periods of stress or down to hormone fluctuations, especially around puberty, but if you notice this going on for any period of time, it’s worth finding out what is going on and getting them some help.

They Lose Confidence or start Talking Negatively About Themselves.

We are our harshest critics; however, your child shouldn’t be using negative talk about themselves. Everyone has down days or times when things get too much — this is completely normal.

But

self-destruction patterns,
body-focused negative behaviors or language

may be indicative that something else is going on, and they might benefit from talking to an expert who can help them make sense of how they feel. Therapy for children isn’t always an easy topic to broach, but it could be the conversation you need to have.

Exhibits New Destructive Behaviours

This could be:

acting out in class
getting into trouble
seeking out trouble or dangerous situations
drinking alcohol
taking drugs.
limiting food intake
punishing their body with exercise
hair pulling
skin picking

You need to look out and write down patterns you notice that are indicative of self-harm or destructive behavior, as this pattern might help you see the bigger picture and know when you need to step in with something other than tough love.

Make Distressing Comments

If you hear your child making distressing comments such as

“I don’t want to be alive anymore.”

“Nobody would care if I wasn’t around.”

…this isn’t something you should ignore.

These comments are usually made because they’re struggling with something and they need help. If they won’t talk to you, it’s important you get them to open up to someone they trust or a therapist who can help them.

Unusually Defiant or Angry

A little rebellion is normal as kids go through different stages and ages, especially in the pre-teen and teenage years.

But if this seems excessive or is outside of normal behavior, they are permanently short-tempered or quick to temper, or they start bullying others or fighting, for example, it is a sign that something is going on they are struggling to deal with, and you need to seek out help so you can help them with whatever they’re going through.

*This article is based on personal suggestions and/or experiences and is for informational purposes only. This should not be used as professional advice. Please consult a professional where applicable.