Jamie, your 11 year old comes home from volleyball practice. You gently smile and ask her, “How was your day sweetie?” She just rolls her eyes at you and storms up the stairs to change her clothes. Concerned, you inquire more about how her day had been and she charges back, “Mom, you would NEVER understand. Just leave me alone!” Shocked, you reply in a stern voice “Jamie that’s enough.” You think to yourself, “That is unusual for Jamie. She has always been such a good kid. I wonder what is going on with her? We used to be able to talk about things. How can I get through to her?”
If you are a parent, grandparent, foster parent, or even a teacher, you have likely experienced this type of scenario. But how can you tell if there is something really serious going on? I mean, it is normal for children to act moody sometimes right? If you are caring for a child that is experiencing behavioral or emotional difficulties it is important that you get professional help. While it is true that children can experience ups and downs as they navigate through the sometimes stormy waters of adolescence, I believe all children and families need some extra support from time to time. Here are a few questions to think about that can help you gauge whether your child is experiencing a typical phase of development or a more serious condition.
1. Is your child experiencing persistent, uncontrolled worries or having difficulty with nightmares, falling asleep or waking in the night?
2. Is your child having significant mood swings or tearing up more often than usual?
3. Is he/she having any changes in school performance or difficulties with friends?
Whether your child is just encountering a bump in the road of life or is struggling with a mental health condition, I am here with a life-preserver and a boat full of tools to help keep your child and family sailing smoothly. We can work on increasing your child’s self-esteem, improving your communication, friendship skills, stress reduction or healing from a trauma. Whatever it is, I am here to listen and creatively assist you and your child and family with any concerns and challenges you are having at this time.
