Anxiety and Mood Disorders are Increasingly Common in Children
For our children to reach their fullest potential, we know that emotional health is as important as physical health. Psychiatric disorders such as anxiety disorders, depressive disorders, ADHD, and trauma are some of many mental health problems that impact emotional development in youth. Additionally, environmental stressors such as social difficulties, academic problems, and ongoing family conflict can also have a significant impact.
At A PurposeFULL Path, we work with children, adolescents, and their family members to combat common mental health problems, such as childhood depression, social anxiety, phobias, separation anxiety, adjustment problems caused by young children and adolescents struggling in school, as well as other typical fears and worries. Our specialized child psychologists, therapists, and psychiatrists offer age-appropriate treatment for children as young as 2 years old, teaching behavioral strategies and coping skills that reduce the symptoms of anxiety, depression, behavioral problems, and other mental health disorders.
Children and adolescents are dealing with more anxiety and mental health problems than ever before; family, school, and social pressures are common. While nervousness, fears, worry, and sadness are normal experiences for everyone, sometimes these experiences can be overwhelming and significantly impact a young person’s life. Up to 12% of children are affected by anxiety disorders, with symptoms often appearing in children as young as pre-school age.
When to Seek Treatment
Seeking a consultation with a health professional, such as a child therapist, pediatric psychiatrist, or pediatrician can be very helpful when dealing with mental health issues. These professionals can assess your child and direct you toward the appropriate resources, which could include individual therapy, family therapy, psychiatric services (including medication consultation), or psychological and neuropsychological assessment. By beginning treatment when your child’s symptoms first appear, you improve their potential for a healthy life and empower your child to navigate life more easily.
A PurposeFULL Path Can Help
A PurposeFULL Path’s Child and the Adolescent program includes highly trained child psychiatrists, psychologists, counselors, and therapists who provide evidence-based assessment and treatment. A typical assessment includes a focus on your child’s strengths and weaknesses in order to understand your child in the context of their environment, both at school and at home. Our treatment providers value the importance of ongoing clinical consultation with important figures in your child’s life. We regularly work with schools, pediatricians, and others in order to inform the most comprehensive and effective treatment.
Our team of psychologists and therapists has advanced training in a range of therapies, including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), dialectical behavior therapy (DBT), and family therapy. In addition, our child and adolescent psychiatrists have specialized training in pediatric mental health and can prescribe medication when necessary that is appropriate for your child’s condition.
Psychological and neuropsychological testing are also helpful tools when trying to understand the source of a young person’s struggles. Often these kinds of assessments are recommended by the school and medical professionals in order to gain a more comprehensive understanding of a child or teen’s cognitive and academic strengths and weaknesses. An assessment of social and emotional functioning can also provide a more detailed understanding of a young person’s personality and temperament. All of these assessments are offered at A PurposeFULL Path.
Parent and Family Support
A positive treatment outcome is impacted by good family support. Parents are always included in our initial consultations and they are an integral part of a child or teen’s treatment. We recognize how important it is to teach parents and often the entire family the best ways to respond to your child or teen during their times of need
Parent support is often recommended with school-age children. Your child’s clinician can teach tools and strategies to support you in responding most effectively when your child becomes anxious or is acting out. Parents can come for their own treatment or as an adjunct to their child’s treatment.
