TheraTree Pediatric Therapy - TheraTree Blog , Mental HealthTheraTree Pediatric Therapy - TheraTree Blog , Mental Healthhttps://www.theratreepeds.com/blogs/mental-healthWed, 12 Nov 2025 18:54:24 -0800http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Children's Mental Health: Experiencing a Life They Love]]>https://www.theratreepeds.com/blogs/post/children-s-mental-health-experiencing-a-life-they-love

Mental Health Therapy is not the easiest for parents to discuss. Mental health continues to be an area most are hesitant to ask for help with. Nobody wants their child to “need therapy”. Whether a child has a history of trauma or is simply struggling with being human, we can help.


It makes sense that parents and guardians need and benefit from professional insight. This is especially true for sensitive subjects or developmentally appropriate issues of growing up. Growing up is hard work! Many assume therapy is only reserved for big problems like abuse, neglect, and trauma. However, therapy can be focused on positive growth, strengths, and experiencing a life they love without one specific life event causing the interruption.

Almost 4 million children and youth experience mental health challenges. Mental, emotional, and behavioral disorders in childhood can cause long-term problems affecting  development, health, education and well-being. If left untreated, these delays may persist and greatly effect adulthood.  A 2009 study found only half of children and youth with anxiety, disordered eating, depression, and ADHD received care. That's why we've added this way to help.

When to Get Help

Many times these “glitches” in a child's  life may not be glaringly obvious to the people closest to the child. The good news is you can play an important part in your child’s mental health by being observant and seeking a professional evaluation to determine if help is needed. Children and youth need mental health therapy when they have mental, emotional, or behavioral challenges that they are not effectively cope with alone. This means their challenges are affecting how well they do, feel, or act. 

We get that as a parent, you want nothing but health and happiness for your child. When your child is distressed, that can be hard to cope with as a parent. Particularly when you feel like nothing is working or there’s nothing you can do to “fix” it. Sometimes you simply can’t “fix” it on your own – especially when you are emotionally invested in the situation yourself. That’s when it’s best to ask for professional help.

Red Flags

It is important to understand that children who are experiencing distress, may not directly share it with their parents. That doesn’t mean your child doesn’t love or trust you.  The truth is many children are unable to fully process and explain the complexities that accompany the emotional and/or psychological challenges they are experiencing. Sometimes children even withhold communication in fear of disappointing their loved ones. Therefore, caregiver observation is key to getting help.


Treating mental health challenges as soon as possible can help children reduce problems at home, school, and healthy development into adulthood. It truly sets them up to experience a life they love. 

Behavioral Signs

  • Unprovoked aggression
  • Unusual, unexpected, or sudden changes in behavior
  • Distressed easily and quickly over little things
  • Low grades or a sudden academic decline
  • Refusal/strong resistance to attend school
  • Repetitively performing rituals and routines like hand-washing
  • Your child responds to voices he/she hears in his/her head
  • Alcohol / drug use, abuse, or addiction
  • Excessive neglect of personal appearance or hygiene
  • Dangerous or illegal thrill-seeking behavior
  • Paranoia and excessive secrecy
  • Excessive perfectionism 
  • Excessive avoidance to protect self


Emotional Signs 

  • Worry, anxiety, or fear
  • Anticipating worries well in advance
  • Feeling down, or sad more often than not
  • Suicidal ideations (thoughts) or attempts
  • Not feeling worthy, or “good enough”
  • Having “rollercoaster” moods
  • Feelings of hopelessness 


Cognitive Signs 

  • Difficulty concentrating on important tasks
  • Problems with memory 
  • Intrusive, obsessive, or racing thoughts
  • Unable to communicate feelings; shutting down
  • Delusions or hallucinations

Social Signs

  • Difficulty adjusting to social situations and/or new situations
  • Social withdraw from activities your child once liked or loved to do
  • Marked decrease in enjoyment and time spent with friends and family
  • Spending most of his/her time alone or engaging in voluntary social isolation
  • Trouble starting and maintaining relationships 
  • Overly suspicious of others
  • Constant Need for Reassurance


Physiological Signs

  • Too much/little sleep, nightmares, bed wetting
  • Changes in eating patterns, too much/little, weight loss/gain
  • Changes in their energy levels, energetic vs fatigued
  • Stomach aches, nausea, headaches, backaches without a medical explanation (constantly going to the nurse - but a legitimate need for medical care is ruled out)

Environmental Factors 

  • Grief and the death of a loved one, pet, home, etc.
  • Bullying
  • Sexual, emotional, and/or physical abuse
  • Witnessed abuse and/or intimidation
  • Relocation issues (i.e. changing schools, homes, families, and/or cities/states)
  • Family substance abuse or addiction

Keep in mind that children of all ages and abilities, from toddlers to teens and verbal to non-verbal, can benefit from mental health therapy.

Who Can Help?

Mental health Therapists include: Licensed Professional Counselors, Licensed Clinical Social Workers, and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists. These professionals offer invaluable insight into your child’s social and emotional development and mental health. Mental health specialists have the knowledge and expertise to recognize, identify root cause, assess, diagnose, and treat a wide range of mental health conditions, adjustment issues (divorce, new school, bullying, grief, etc.), and psychological distress.

Their purpose is to help children better interpret what they are dealing with and/or the trauma that occurred – in a way they can process and understand. This helps children work through their emotions and experiences so that they can live life without the lasting effects of fear, confusion, anxiety, or trauma. Ultimately, Mental Health Therapists help your child to resolve his/her challenges and resume a healthy and productive life.

How Therapy Works

Children learn by doing and therapy is no different. While therapy greatly differs based on the age of the child, most therapy sessions work through problem-solving skills and talking about feelings. With younger children, this looks like working with the whole family, drawing, playing, and talking. For older youth, they work through sharing and directly learning to develop the skills needed to work through problems. Therapy looks different for each patient; there is no one-size-fits-all treatment. Therapy is designed to identify the root cause of the child’s challenge. Then, the therapist can work with the child/family to develop skills to cope, problem-solve, and create healthy thinking patterns. 

Therapy will usually be future-oriented. Meaning there will be little looking back or digging up the past. Instead, they will be working towards an optimistic future, developing positive coping methods, as well as boosting self-esteem, self-confidence, and other positive states and traits. Therapists give praise and support as children learn. They help children and youth believe in themselves and find their strengths. Therapy builds helpful thinking patterns and healthy behavioral habits. Therapy can provide them with opportunities to not just survive after trauma but thrive in life.


A therapist might meet with the child and parent together or meet with the child alone. It depends on the child's age and their specific situation.  When children are young, it is common for therapy to include the parent. Parent-focused approaches typically mean that parents talk with the therapist about the child’s behavior and feelings then the parent implements with their child at home. Regardless of the age or structure established, therapists do want to meet with the parent/caregiver within the appointment to give tips and ideas for how to help their child at home.  Therapists may also observe parents and children together and then make suggestions for finding different ways to react. Sometimes, entire families need support while trying to communicate, learn, and create boundaries. Sometimes  other important adults in the child’s life (for example, a teacher) are included as well.


Parents are usually concerned with how long treatment will take and how soon they will see progress. How quickly your child makes progress will depend on the complexity of his challenges, how long the problem has had to take root, and the established goals of therapy. Being aware of the factors that affect results can help you form realistic expectations and avoid frustration. For example, a child who is severely anxious may have difficulty participating in therapy. A teenager with depression may resist treatment, and need help to see how they might benefit from it. Missed appointments and conflicts between parents over the need for therapy can also undermine and limit progress. One overwhelmingly positive influence is having a supportive and involved family and regularly kept appointments.

What's Next...

If you have any questions or concerns about your child please reach out to us at TheraTree. We provide free screenings and full mental health evaluations. You can reach us by phone/text at 270-688-8449 or email at newpatients@theratreepeds.com.

Get Started Now
]]>Tue, 19 Oct 2021 23:09:17 -0500<![CDATA[Anxiety in Children ]]>https://www.theratreepeds.com/blogs/post/anxiety However, some children consistently demonstrate difficulty adapting because of a perception of danger surrounding a task. Particularly if there is un ]]>

By Jessica Hatfield, Ms, OTR/L

Children are constantly learning, growing, and adapting to their environment. Even when we give the most stable and routine environment, things still always and inevitably change. Change is normal and children seek to feel safe and secure.


It is important to note that some worry and stress is normal and even needed for survival. The primary purpose of our ‘fight or flight’ response is to keep us safe. Stress and worry are also useful to our growth because we are challenged to try different things. We want our children to grow and adapt for the ever changing pace of life.

However, some children consistently demonstrate difficulty adapting because of a perception of danger surrounding a task. Particularly if there is uncertainty or there has been a previously negative association. At time several less intense events can build up to cause an overwhelm. Both of these negatively affect their daily living. Pediatric anxiety has grown to be one of the major mental health issues facing children. Anxiety is experienced in the pediatric population at increasing rates. 7.1% of children aged 3-17 years (approximately 4.4 million) have diagnosed anxiety. (Ghandour 2018) 

What is Anxiety?

Anxiety is apprehension about the future. Behaviors will also begin to affect thinking processes. For example an expectation is unrealistic and in turn leads to ruminating or negative thoughts. Anxiety can cause negative mood and physical tension. There are many different types of anxiety including separation anxiety, OCD, perfectionism, social phobias, or generalized anxiety etc. Anxiety is different than fear and panic, although a person can experience these as well. Fear is an immediate alarm to current danger, physical arousal, and avoidance. Panic is fear at an inappropriate time. It’s abrupt, intense, and physically arousing.

What Causes Anxiety?

A variety factors can contribute to anxiety in children. Children may observe and replicate anxious behaviors of others. Life experiences may also trigger anxious feelings and behaviors. For example loss, serious illness, bullying, or other types of abuse. Genetic factors that effect brain chemistry can cause a child to be more predisposed to developing anxiety. 

What Causes Anxiety?

  • Agitation, jittery, or restlessness
  • Sleep Deprivation or nightmares
  • Easily upset or crying on a regular basis
  • Panic Attacks, heart pounding, palms sweaty, trouble breathing
  • Somatic symptoms of physical pains, e.g. headaches, tummy aches, nausea
  • Repeated behaviors or phrases that are familiar
  • Tantrums, including meltdowns before school about inconsequential issues like socks
  • Clingy to the point it is disruptive
  • Constantly seeking the reassurance from others
  • Tries to get others, particularly adults, to do things for them
  • Asks for assistance for tasks they can complete independently

Children  may say phrases like: 

  • Something terrible will happen. 
  • I don’t have any control over it. 
  • It will be my fault if it happens. 
  • I don’t know what to do!
  • I have to get out of here!
  • I need to know for sure that it’s okay
  • I can’t make any mistakes
  • Always on the lookout for danger and checking to make sure things are safe.
  • Dislike or avoidance of new or difficult tasks
  • Avoidance behaviors or trying to stay home from school
  • High expectations of self
  • Low self-esteem and confidence 
  • Delayed social skill development and difficulty maintaining relationships
  • Decreased motivation for certain tasks

Child might demonstrate a few of these behaviors occasionally and some of these signs may be cause by other factors not related to anxiety. However when negative, anxious behaviors become more common or intense, your child may qualify for an anxiety diagnosis. When experiences these frequently or at extremes, the natural protective responses triggered no longer serve as protective and become debilitating. High levels of anxiety can make it difficult for a child to participate everyday activities including school, play and friendships. When anxiety interferes with your child’s ability to play and learn, it’s time to talk to a professional.

What Causes Anxiety?

For children experiencing anxiety, it is a natural response for parents to want to step in and solve the problem. However this is not the best long term strategy to actually help your child with their anxiety. By removing or allowing your child to avoid, you are unintentionally reinforcing their anxieties and removing opportunities to develop coping skills and resilience. Therefore it is important to give your child the opportunity to work through their fears in order to develop these highly important skills. This is best done by working with professionals. There are several profession who help with anxiety: 

  • Occupational Therapists to apply concrete strategies. 
  • Psychiatrists and nurse practitioners to prescribe medication. 
  • Psychologists, social workers, and counselors to provide emotional support.

How Occupational Therapy Helps

Occupational Therapy (OT) can be thought of as the therapy of taking action! There are many ways we can talk to our children about their worries and fears, but by teaching them concrete strategies we empower children to become independent in their own lives! Occupational therapy providers step in to bridge the gap so children can learn to function and feel how powerful they really are when it comes to their thoughts and abilities. Occupational Therapy intervention addresses anxiety through the followings ways:


Proactive strategies

The purpose of proactive strategies is to prevent the anxiety from occurring. This provides a short term benefit but is not helpful long term as our environment is always changing and adaptability is a survival skill. Some proactive strategies include establishing routines, visual schedules, and adapting the environment (ex sensory-friendly environments, fidget toys, quiet corners etc). 


Teaching, Thinking, and Applying Strategies 

The purpose of these strategies are to increase both interoception and communication strategies so children can manage themselves to identify and prevent anxiety. These provide the most long term benefits in their life. These strategies include interoception, effective education, cognitive restructuring, and communication to adults about what they are experiencing and their wants/needs. 


Reactive Strategies

The purpose of reactive strategies is to help in the moment while a child is experiencing anxiety. This has both short and long term benefits. However the difficulty with teaching reactive strategies is bridging the concept of “what to do” with actually being able to recall and apply them in the moment. Generally these skills take longer to develop because of this. These strategies include Guided Imagery, deep breathing, distraction, quiet time, calm/comfort techniques


Parenting Strategies

As with all Occupational Therapy intervention, parent education is important. Parents have a big influence on how their child with learn and respond by the tone they set. Occupational Therapy Providers teach parents how to be both proactive and reactive with their child. They teach what not to do. Often parents need to utilize calming strategies of their own when interacting with their child who is in a heightened state of arousal. When children are in a heightened state, they may have difficulty understanding complex language. So simplifying the words spoken to them can have a big impact on their reaction. Occupational Therapy Providers also teach parents by example and self reliance. 


What's Next?

If you have any questions or concerns about your child please reach out to an occupational therapist at TheraTree. You can reach us by phone at 270-688-8449 or email at newpatients@theratreepeds.com.

Get Started Now

References:


Ghandour RM, Sherman LJ, Vladutiu CJ, Ali MM, Lynch SE, Bitsko RH, Blumberg SJ. Prevalence and treatment of depression, anxiety, and conduct problems in U.S. children. The Journal of Pediatrics, 2018. Published online before print  October 12, 2018 


Gobrial, E., & Raghavan, R. (2017). Calm child programme: Parental programme for anxiety in children and young people with autism spectrum disorder and intellectual disabilities. Journal of Intellectual Disabilities, 1744629517704536.

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