Depression & Anxiety

How Do I Know if My Child is Depressed?

Depression can creep up subtly especially when your child or teen may not have the awareness or comfort to identify or articulate what's going on with them. It can look like sad mood, irritability or anger, negative comments about themselves and the world, seeming sensitive or touchy, excessive feelings of guilt and self-blame, decreased energy or motivation, low interest in activities or socializing, changes to their sleep, and even thoughts or behaviors related to harming themselves. Depression can also be episodic, so your child may struggle for a few weeks, and things may lift for some time, before a dip in mood occurs again.

The good news is that depression is typically very treatable. Individual therapy with children and teens can provide a safe space for them to share their inner thoughts and feelings, build a more positive outlook on themselves, learn about self-compassion, and practice coping skills that can help them face future life stressors. My approach is proactive in terms of collaboration with parents, so you'll be involved in the process as much as it makes sense for you and your child. 

My Child is So Stressed Out

Whether it's academic pressure, social anxiety, general worries, or obsessive-compulsive symptoms, frequent worries can make it difficult for kids to be kids. It takes plenty of energy and focus to work themselves up to doing something scary, push away the scary thoughts, and ignore the negative self-talk, in order to be present in whatever they are doing. 

Sometimes it's not a phase, and getting professional help may be the best way to help your child get back to being themselves and being happy. If your child's worries or obsessions are affecting their day-to-day life (and probably yours), please reach out to see how I can help.