Many children experience mood swings, shifts in their behavior, and changes in their ability to cope with certain stressors. From societal and school stress, to grief and external pressures, there could be many reasons why children go through ups and downs. So what are the signs that your child needs therapy? Here are some key indicators: persistent and lasting emotional and/or behavioral changes such as; difficulty coping with everyday challenges, trouble sleeping, outbursts, school refusal, and excessive worrying (that doesn’t seem to go away). These are all signs your child may benefit from therapy. Read below to find out more about these four signs!

1. Persistent (and lasting) Emotional or Behavioral Changes

Moods come and go like weather patterns. However, if your go-to comforting techniques are no longer working, and your child seems to have trouble “bouncing back,” it may be time to seek advice from a therapist. If you notice significant and lasting changes in your child's mood, behavior, or emotions, such as extreme sadness, frequent anger outbursts, tearfulness, prolonged irritability, withdrawal from social activities, or significant changes in appetite or sleep patterns, it may be a sign that they are struggling. Seeking a therapist could be beneficial if your child has significantly changed their eating habits, sleeping habits, and personal interests. Be sure to pay attention to how long these changes last. If these changes last longer than two weeks, consider scheduling a consultation with a trained child specialist such as a parent coach or child-focused therapist.

2. Difficulty Coping with Everyday Challenges

Changes can be difficult for children (and grown-ups, too)! If you notice that your child’s ability to cope with challenges such as increased homework, or summer break it can be beneficial to notice your child’s response. If your child consistently has difficulty dealing with common stressors, such as changes in routine, transitions, or social interactions to the point where they have trouble regulating their emotions and avoid or isolate, then therapy can provide them with tools to better cope. Pay attention to your child’s academic performance and notice if it begins to decline or if they frequently exhibit difficulty concentrating, have a hard time completing tasks, or show signs of learning disabilities. If your child struggles with this, an assessment or consultation can help identify any underlying issues and provide support. If your child is struggling emotionally, therapy can provide your child with skills they can use to help improve their social functioning. Does your child constantly struggle with making and maintaining friendships, have difficulty interacting with peers or adults, or display unusual behaviors in social situations? This might be a sign that they are struggling socially. 

3. Anxiety or Excessive Worry

Anxiety can look like trouble separating from a parent, refusing to go to school, trouble falling and staying asleep, or frequent outbursts, tantrums, or crying spells. It is normal for children to be anxious from time-to-time, however, excessive amounts of anxiety in the form of panic attacks, intense and long lasting fear or worry, and/or obsessive behaviors can disrupt your child’s school performance, their ability to manage relationships, or function overall. If you are noticing that the anxiety or excessive worrying begins to interfere with your child’s day to day life, it is likely time to seek support as therapy can be beneficial in addressing these issues.

4. Coping with Traumatic Experiences

Lastly, If your child has experienced a traumatic event, or an intensely stressful situation such as the death of a loved one, divorce, bullying, witnessing violence, or a disaster (COVID-19, Canadian wildfire smoke, etc.) and they exhibit lasting fear and anxiety, it may be beneficial to seek advice. Scary situations happen. Responding to your child’s fears by comforting them can be transformative. However, if they have trouble being soothed, and have lasting stress responses such as nightmares, or feel unsafe, it may be helpful to seek support. If left untreated, traumatic stress can manifest in the form of disassociation or spaciness, excessive anxiety, irritability, avoidance, and/or excessive risk-taking behaviors. Therapy can be a safe space where a trauma-informed clinician may assist children in processing their emotions, and developing healthy coping strategies.

Finding the Right Therapist for your child

When thinking about how to find the right therapist for your child, it’s important to consider local resources, organizations, and reliable referral sources. It’s also important to consider the type of therapy will be most beneficial for your child. Davenport Creative Arts Therapy, blends Art Therapy with evidence-based and trauma-informed “talk” therapies such as CBT, DBT, and EMDR to help children not only reduce symptoms, but also move toward a more harmonious relationship with themselves. Traditional therapy isn’t for everyone. Davenport Creative Arts Therapy is here to help open new pathways to wellness by offering alternatives to talking for children who might not be ready to talk. Click here to schedule your free consultation with us?