FAQ’s

What age is too late to start therapy?

No age is ever too late to begin therapy, and treatment can start as young as age two.

Does confidentiality keep the therapist from telling the parents what is discussed in the session?

How long will therapy take?

It’s not really possible to say for certain. Everyone’s circumstances are unique to them and the length of time counseling can take to allow you and your child to accomplish your goals depends on your desire for personal development, your commitment, and the factors that are driving you to seek counseling in the first place.

How do I know when my child needs therapy?

Some possible signs could be:

Withdrawing from friends or feeling lonely.
Sleeping more or having difficulty falling asleep.
Low mood – not laughing as much or expressing joy.
Reduced interest in activities they enjoyed.
Grades slipping at school.
Low self esteem.
Lack of energy – they may feel tired often.
Feeling restless or irritable.
Change in apetite.
Feeling hopeless or worthless.

Your child is dealing with a stressful situation in life such as bullying, a health problem, divorce, or a new sibling.
Your child’s problems seem to be getting worse with age instead of better.
Tantrums last longer than you’d expect or your child gets destructive or hits people.
The emotional problems started after a trauma such as a death, accident, or abuse.
It’s hard for your child to make and keep friends.
Engages in negative behavior more regularly.
Has repetitive, self-destructive behaviors such as hai-pulling or skin-picking.

What age do kids start feeling depressed?

Depression and anxiety are among the most common mental health disorders in children. About 7% of children ages 3-17 have anxiety; about 3% deal with depression. Both depression and anxiety tend to be higher in older children and teenagers between the ages of 12 and 17.

Why should I take my child to therapy?

Therapy works! Decades of research confirm that psychotherapy helps make life better. For children, the type of therapy that works best will depend on the child’s personality and temperament. It’s not a one-size-fits-all approach.
Learning adaptive coping skills can help children navigate adversity over time. As kids grow and develop, we are constantly teaching them new skills. If children learn how to adaptively cope with social challenges at a young age, they can enter adulthood being more resilient and able to deal with challenges later in life.
Children can learn to ask for help when they need it.
A therapist can add another team member to your child’s team. Bringing in additional support to your child’s life can give your child more support and help you as a parent learn how to support them more too.
You can quit if you don’t like it. If you try therapy for your child and either your child or you don’t like it, you can change therapists or stop treatment.

What can I expect in a session?

I want my child to get the most out of therapy. What can I do to help?

Why shouldn’t my child just take medication?

It is well established that the long-term solution to mental and emotional problems cannot be solved solely by medication. Instead of medically treating the symptom, therapy addresses the cause of our distress and the behavior patterns that curb our progress. In some situations medication combined with therapy can be the correct approach.