PARENTING

KIDS & THERAPY

WRITTEN BY LAUREN DREHER

Do all kids need therapy—especially after the pandemic? The short answer is no, but the real answer is much more indepth. Everyone reacts differently to events, struggles, and stressors. I caught up with Ashley Daniels, LCSW, who specializes in working with kids. We covered a few different areas that might help you make an informed decision if you are considering therapy for your child.

Do all kids need therapy?

Kids are their own individual people. This means they all react differently to what is going on in their world. This isn’t limited to just the pandemic, but to all seasons of life. There are many factors that affect kids. Of course, the drastic routine changes that came with the world around us shutting down was difficult. Everyone’s social situations and learning or working environments were upended. These things were changed for an extended period of time, and we all had to adapt to a new routine. Daniels stated this well by explaining that kids all react in their own individual ways to stressors and changes in their lives. “No matter if that means a change in the way their home system works, moving schools or towns, family tragedies, or a situation like we saw with the pandemic. Depending on the changes you see in your child, they might benefit from therapy.” If you are a parent who is hesitant to start your child in therapy, Daniels shared some ways to help make that decision. 1. Reach out to trusted friends or family members who have kids in therapy and ask for some feedback. 2. Connect with your school counselor. They might be able to be a first step in helping your child, or

they will have resources and can point you in the right direction. Daniels mentioned that many places have screenings they can do to help identify unknown issues that might be present. 3. Research your community resources. There are often many community mental health resources available. 4. Many insurance plans have an Employee Assistance

Program (EAP) where you can get free sessions to see if therapy is the right option.

What are some signs your child needs therapy?

The warning signs will present differently with each child and each circumstance. But something Daniels reiterated is you know your child best. “You know if there is something wrong or ‘off’ better than anyone else. You have the best judgment to see the signs they are not acting quite right,” she explains. Some examples include: a change in behavior (they act the opposite of what is normal), worrying about things outside of their control, sleep changes, and appetite changes. If some of these are happening, a good place to start is a consultation with a mental health professional. They may be able to identify what is causing the issue, and they are trained to ask the right questions to get you started. Daniels noted that it is very important your plan works with the family system. Kids are a part of a family system. A mental health professional can be a resource to help make a plan for that child and help with parenting tools that create a structure for your child. They are there to be a resource.

Therapy at Young Ages

Therapy can be implemented at a very young age—even as young as two years old. Young kids are not going to sit and chat, but a therapist can be trained in techniques to use play as a form of therapy. Daniels explains, “We see a lot of kids act out their feelings and emotions using force. Again, this doesn’t necessarily mean they need therapy, but you can always reach out to find out if further action is needed.”

Therapy Resources

Nationwide suicide hotline: 988 (this is a 24/7 line that anyone can call) Text line for teens: text “home” to 741-741 (this will connect them to a mental health provider)