Children and teens are vulnerable to numerous mental health conditions, and the average onset of symptoms often emerges during adolescence. Unfortunately, symptoms can often go untreated because parents may assume that their child is just going through a phase. In many cases, this isn't true. Untreated mental health issues can have devastating consequences on a child's self-esteem. Moreover, their mental health often correlates with the quality of their relationships, academic performance, and ability to cope with stress.

You’re not alone.

  • Have you noticed that your child is more irritable and struggles to tell you why?
  • Do you notice that they’re feeling down? Are they pulling back from friends, family, and people they were previously close to?
  • Are they feeling overwhelmed with their school work, after-school activities, and friendships?
  • Do they struggle to go to bed and ruminate over all the what-ifs?

Is your child or teen struggling?

Therapy for Children & Adolescents in Michigan

Learn more about some of the key issues I work on when offering mental health treatments for my child and adolescent clients. 

Compassionate and evidence-based mental health treatment can help your child feel more empowered in everyday life. Together, we will work on recognizing triggers and developing new coping skills to manage challenging feelings.

Depression isn't just about being sad or apathetic. Clinical depression can affect every part of your child's life — it can make them feel more tired, irritable, and guilty. Some children are open about their symptoms, but others try to mask or suppress them.

Therapy for adolescent depression entails several components, including:
  • recognizing both internal and external triggers that affect mood
  • exploring healthy coping skills to use during moments of acute distress
  • crisis support for suicidal thoughts and self-harm

Depression Treatment

Therapy can help your child recognize harmful thought patterns and develop healthier coping strategies to manage stress. 

Research shows that nearly 1 in 3 teenagers will have an anxiety disorder, and this statistic appears to be rising steadily.

Teens face enormous pressure — they want to succeed in school, fit in with their friends, and make their parents proud. Likewise, more recent stressors like online bullying, social media, school gun violence, and 24/7 access to news can heighten their sense of unease.

Anxiety can manifest itself in numerous ways. Some teens deal with it by avoiding certain situations (as is seen in cases of social anxiety). Others might try to numb their feelings with food, alcohol, drugs, or social media.

Anxiety Treatment

In therapy, we will work on strengthening self-worth and practicing more compassion and acceptance in everyday life. 

Even if your child once seemed confident, the teenage years can undoubtedly take a toll on their self-esteem. Adolescence is often characterized by awkward moments, difficult feelings, and interpersonal conflict.

Low self-esteem is a risk factor in numerous mental health conditions, and it can also affect your child’s overall emotional well-being.

Low Self-Esteem

Therapy can be helpful if you have concerns about serious or chronic impulse control issues like substance use, self-harm, disordered eating, or unprotected sex. 

The teenage brain is sensitive to immediate rewards, and it’s harder for young people to consider the consequences of their actions. 

Poor Impulse Control

Teens often feel empowered when they can embrace their cultural identity. Therapy offers a safe place to explore complex emotions and receive support. 

Teens feel the impact of social injustice, racism, and discrimination just like adults. And in some cases, they may feel even more isolated in their experiences (especially if they don't have the language to describe how they feel).

Cultural Identity

If your child has a chronic illness, seeking support can be invaluable for their well-being. Their mental health affects their physical health!

Teens with chronic illness can struggle with depression, anxiety, and feelings of loneliness — along with symptoms of chronic pain and fatigue. These symptoms can take a significant toll on your teen's life, even if they don't readily talk about how they feel.

Chronic Illness

Parental mental health issues not only impact your own well-being, but they can also affect your parenting. If you’re feeling depressed or anxious, you might find that it’s harder to be patient or mindful with your kids and/or partner. You may be more irritable, angry, disconnected, or panicked. Or perhaps despite your best efforts to deal with your painful past, you find yourself thinking “I sound just like my parents.”

You don’t have to deal with this alone. Parenting is a difficult stage in life. Reach out today so you can be the parent you want to be. Explore my service offerings for weekly psychotherapy or short-term intensive trauma treatment.

What if you’re struggling with your own mental health issues?

Whether your child has behavioral issues, depression, or anxiety, I am here to help. I specialize in treating youth of all ages and their parents and caregivers.

I provide online therapy services throughout Ann Arbor, Traverse City, Bloomfield Hills, and the rest of Michigan. 

Child and Adolescent Therapy Sessions in Michigan