When you have children, you’re responsible for their health and happiness. You need to ensure their basic needs are met, and you want to give them the tools and support to thrive as they grow up.
While much of parenting is about the day-to-day things, like comforting your kids and feeding them dinner, you also need to ensure they have other needs met, such as help with any physical or mental conditions or concerns.
While therapy has become much more common and accepted for adults, getting a therapist for a child can be more contentious. As a parent, you want the best for your child, and you want to support their physical and mental well-being. The truth is that children can benefit from the support of a trained therapist in many cases.
Still, you may wonder when you need to seek counseling for your child. While this is always a personal decision, this article can help.
Is Therapy Always Helpful?
The good news is that it likely won’t hurt to take your child to therapy. A trained therapist who works with children or families should be able to help you determine if therapy is necessary or if your child is just going through normal developmental milestones.
Even if your child doesn’t have any mental health conditions or significant life struggles, they may benefit from support and learning healthy coping skills.
When Therapy Is Important?
While a therapist can be helpful even when it’s not particularly necessary, experts do have recommendations for when children should likely see a professional.
Here are some signs that your child may need mental health support from a licensed therapist:
- They are struggling in many areas of their life, such as socially, academically, and emotionally.
- They express interest in self-harm or say they do not want to be alive anymore.
- They suddenly have issues with sleep or appetite.
- They’ve become more withdrawn.
- They engage in self-harm behaviors or are harming others.
While the above list is far from extensive, it does give a jumping-off point to help parents and guardians know when to find help. Generally speaking, you know your child best. If you feel something is wrong, contacting therapists in your area doesn’t hurt.
How To Find A Trustworthy Child Therapist?
One of the biggest concerns parents have is how to find an experienced therapist for their child. While there isn’t one correct answer here, there are some tips you can follow to assist you in your search. Here are some guidelines for finding a good therapist for your kid:
- Research therapists in your area: While online therapy is also an option, you can start by looking up family and child therapists near you. From there, you can talk to a few clinics and see which one may be the right fit.
- Look at directories: Many online directories list reputable therapists in specific specialties and areas of practice.
- Check experience: Finally, you should always ensure any therapist you’re considering, whether for your child or yourself, is licensed to practice. It also helps to see how many years of experience they have and check if they belong to professional organizations.
On a final note, remember that finding a therapist for your child is often the best way to support them. While there is no single right time to find a child counselor, the advice in this guide is meant to connect you with resources so you can take next steps.
