Children’s Mental Health: Signs Your Child May Need Counseling
Children’s Mental Health: Does My Child Need Pediatric Counseling?
Understanding pediatric counseling
Children often experience complex emotions that can lead to mental health disorders—and these conditions can occur earlier than you might expect.
In fact, the CDC recently found that one in six children between the ages of two and eight in the United States have been diagnosed with a mental health disorder.
Children’s Mental Health Awareness Week is celebrated every first week of May. This celebration helps spread awareness of the importance of children’s mental health and aims to eliminate the stigma surrounding children’s mental health issues. A mental health diagnosis is no reflection on you or your parenting skills, nor is it a reflection on your child. It is simply a sign that they may need to develop more skills to cope with life’s challenges. Treatment for children facing these disorders can have a profoundly positive effect on their lives.
Importance of telehealth counseling for children’s mental health
Children who receive help for mental health concerns often go on to lead healthy and productive adult lives, due in part to the coping skills they can learn from counseling. Therapists trained in child development can help children work through common challenges, discuss their feelings, and learn how to manage their emotions in a virtual environment that may feel less intimidating than traditional office settings.
Pediatric telehealth counselors at ReachLink are specially trained and licensed to work with children and adolescents through secure video sessions. Children are not yet mentally equipped to understand or know how to cope with anxiety and other feelings for which many adults seek professional help. Our licensed child counselors work with children to manage various concerns, such as difficulty coping with trauma, adjusting to divorce or other family changes, body image and self-esteem struggles, and difficulties with peers—all from the comfort and security of their own home.
Is virtual pediatric counseling right for your child?
If you are unsure whether your child could benefit from telehealth counseling, consider this list of potential risk factors or warning signs. If your child is demonstrating any of these behaviors, you may want to consult a medical or mental health professional:
- Increased desire to spend time alone or lack of desire to spend time with family or friends
- Sudden decline in school performance
- Difficulty concentrating at school or on other tasks
- Persistent sadness, sullenness, lack of energy, or hopelessness
- Excessive anxiety or stress
- A loss of interest in activities they previously enjoyed
- Extreme dependency on habitual acts, such as hand washing or making sure doors are locked
- Excessive anger or agitation that leads to lashing out
- Changes in sleeping or eating habits
- Difficulty connecting with peers
- Withdrawing from life or displaying an unwillingness to open up
How treatment works in telehealth pediatric counseling
At ReachLink, our pediatric counselors tailor treatment plans to each individual child, considering their age, level of development, personality, behavioral concerns, and more. We set specific treatment goals to ensure that our strategies are helping your child progress. Depending on your child’s needs, our counselors may use virtual talk therapy, adapted play therapy techniques for telehealth, or even virtual group therapy sessions. Most often, our child counselors start with talk therapy to form a connection with the child and ensure they have a clear understanding of how they’re feeling, even in a digital environment.
Benefits of virtual counseling approaches for children
ReachLink’s child therapists can treat a number of social or emotional challenges that your child is currently facing. Some of our most common services include treatments for anxiety, trauma, divorce, and grief. Our counselors who specialize in working with kids often adapt play therapy techniques for the telehealth environment—which may involve talking to and observing your child while they engage with toys or artistic activities during video sessions—to help children learn how to talk about their feelings.
Cognitive behavioral therapy for children through telehealth
Even with very young children, psychological treatments delivered via telehealth can be successful. Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a proven effective method for children as young as three years old, and ReachLink’s platform allows for seamless delivery of these evidence-based approaches. CBT focuses on recognizing and reframing beliefs that contribute to maladaptive behaviors and emotions. For example, if a child is scared that something bad will happen to their parent, using CBT through our secure video platform, our children’s behavioral therapists can help them learn to respond to those thoughts and tell themselves that those bad things are unlikely to happen.
How to support your child’s mental health between telehealth sessions
It can be difficult to watch your child struggle, especially when they’re experiencing something that you may not be able to help them work through on your own. If you are considering ReachLink’s counseling services but want to take steps on your own as well, you can implement some simple changes at home to help your child cope during difficult times:
Make time to talk
Take the time to sit down and talk with your child. Do your best to be present and listen without judgment or interruption to the struggles they are facing. This can help your child to feel safe, heard, and sort through their own thoughts.
Encourage healthy sleeping habits
Numerous studies have linked sleep issues to mental health challenges in children and adolescents. Encouraging your child to maintain healthy sleeping habits—such as having a bedtime routine, getting enough sleep, and reducing screen use before bedtime—can help them stay mentally and physically healthy.
Encourage daily exercise
Experts have found that regular exercise can help children and adolescents cope with anxiety, depression, self-esteem, and other mental health challenges. Encourage your child to exercise regularly, whether through organized sports, playing outdoors, or simply taking a family walk. You can turn exercise into a pastime that you can enjoy together—for example, hiking, climbing trees, playing things like badminton or basketball, or jogging. Physical activities can offer additional opportunities for conversation and closeness.
Telehealth therapy benefits for the whole family
Research shows that telehealth therapy can help parents provide care to children who are living with mental health concerns. In one study, researchers found that online therapy could help parents with children who experienced depression and anxiety implement strategies for managing their symptoms. Participants found that they were able to improve their relationships with their children, reduce family conflict, and improve behavioral concerns.
Benefits of ReachLink’s telehealth platform for families
ReachLink’s telehealth therapy, both for your child and for you, can make a significant difference in helping you move forward as a healthier, happier family. Our platform offers flexible, discreet counseling around your schedule, making it ideal for busy family life. We provide customized services for parents and children, with specialized counseling for adolescents aged 13 to 19. Our platform allows children and teens to work with licensed counselors through secure video calls, voice calls, or messaging. As a parent, you can also access support whether you’re waiting in a carpool lane or unwinding on your couch after a long day.
Our holistic approach ensures that the entire family can receive the support they need, with specialized therapists who understand the unique dynamics of family mental health. ReachLink’s secure, HIPAA-compliant platform ensures that all communications remain private and protected.
Takeaway
As a parent, helping your child learn coping mechanisms and skills for life’s challenges can be a critical and empowering step. Recognizing when your child may benefit from professional support—especially through flexible, accessible modes like telehealth—can open the door to vital resources and strategies that nurture their emotional well-being. Remember, seeking counseling is a proactive way to provide your child with tools to handle life’s stresses, develop resilience, and improve their overall quality of life.
With ReachLink’s specialized pediatric counseling services, your child can receive compassionate, expert care tailored to their unique needs, all within the safety and convenience of your home. Our approach not only helps children navigate challenging emotions and situations but also supports families as a whole, fostering healthier communication and connections.
Investing in your child’s mental health today lays the foundation for a brighter, healthier tomorrow. If you notice warning signs or simply want to provide an extra layer of emotional support, don’t hesitate to reach out and explore how telehealth pediatric counseling can make a meaningful difference in your child’s life.
