Your Child's Mental Health Matters!
A lot of children, including teenagers have issues that affect how they feel, act, or learn and sometimes these young individuals need therapy when they are dealing with problems they can't cope with alone.
We understand that it can be difficult and even scary at times of the idea of taking your child to therapy. Let's be honest, nobody really wants to see a therapist, but we here at Love Integrative Therapies, want to make you, the parents/guardians, feel at ease with the thought of therapy for your child. We also strive to provide a welcoming, comfortable and safe environment for your little ones. We also understand that you may have a ton of questions to ask and we are here to answer any questions that may arise.
ADHD - Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Individuals with this diagnosis have either difficulty with attention or hyperactive/impulsive behaviors and in some cases have a combination of both. Children who exhibit a significant amount of these symptoms may have difficulty at school and in their relationship with others. At home, their family members can become frustrated after repeatedly giving directions, asking him/her to sit down, complete their chores/homework and interrupt the family's daily life. At school, their teacher may have to constantly redirect the child, he/she may have a desk placed away from other children to reduce distractions and the teacher may call the parent to report concerns. All of which takes away from the education that your child and the other children could be receiving and could cause long-term effects in their education if not addressed.
AT HOME: Children with symptoms of inattention and hyperactive/impulsivity have difficulty playing quietly, appears to be restless, squirm, wiggle, has difficulty waiting his/her turn, is talkative and sometimes appears to be "on the go." They can also have difficulty completing tasks, loses things, is forgetful and has poor organizational skills.
AT SCHOOL: Children who exhibit symptoms of inattention and hyperactivity at school may have difficulty focusing on schoolwork/homework, completes only a portion of assignments, appears to be daydreaming and is reluctant to engage in difficult tasks. In school they may leave their seat without permission, takes items from others, talks at inappropriate tasks, interrupts others and may have lower grades than their ability may suggest.
The above is not a confirmation of a diagnosis but instead should be used to help recognize some of the signs that something more could be occurring with your child. A licensed clinician along with testing would confirm a diagnosis and make recommendations for treatment. If these signs appear to stick out to you then don't hesitate to make an appointment because they could impair a child's educational success and impair their relationship with peers.
ODD - Oppositional Defiant Disorder
Children with oppositional behaviors can cause a disruption and distress in one or more environments which can impact their relationships, school performance and in other areas of their lives. These individuals may be argumentative, vindictive or seen as angry by others which can have a negative impact on their lives. These disturbances impact not only the child but also their parents, siblings, peer group, teachers and sometimes individuals within the community.
AT HOME: In their home environment children may refuse to complete their chores, talk back to their parents and purposely refuse to do as they are told. At home the child may argue with his/her brothers and sisters and blame mistakes on others. They often have difficulty taking responsibility for their actions. They may argue with their siblings and have difficult recognizing their role in disagreements or problems. The child may at time become angry with adults after receiving consequences and then have a desire for payback or revenge.
AT SCHOOL/IN COMMUNITY: Children who exhibit symptoms at school may have difficulty getting along with peers or have very few friends. They may have a history of arguments or fighting with peers and a history of in-school or out-of-school suspensions. These individuals may be easily annoyed and quick to lose their temper. They may argue with teachers, blame problems on others and not take responsibility for their actions.
The above is not a confirmation of a diagnosis but instead should be used to help recognize some of the signs that something more could be occurring with your child. A licensed clinician along with testing would confirm a diagnosis and make recommendations for treatment. If these signs appear to stick out to you then don't hesitate to make an appointment because they could impair a child's educational success and impair their relationship with peers.
It can be difficult for children to understand death and thus have difficulty expressing their emotions and begin the process of grieving. There are many questions that they have such as why did the loved one die? Where do you go after you die? Why did they leave me? They may show excessive stress when separating from loved one out of fear that they may not return. You may also notice a range of emotions such as fear, worry, sadness and anger that expressed looks like crying, isolation, breaking things, collecting and/or sleeping with items that remind the child of the loved one.
AT HOME: The child may wear the clothing of the deceased person or use the clothing to remember the scent of the person which many children find soothing. If they are angry they will refuse to do as told, become less tidy and may fight. If they are experiencing fear they may have difficulty separating from their parents or no longer find joy in the activities that they used to love.
AT SCHOOL: A child that is grieving can cause a dramatic change in their educational experience. For instance, they may refuse to complete school work, they may be observed as daydreaming, have new class disruptive behaviors and see a decline in grades. They are sometimes seen as angry toward their friends, refuse to participate in class activities or sports and their attitude toward educational excellence may decline.
In therapy these emotions can be address and questions can be answered. When the entire family may be in the grieving process it can be difficult to console others and it can be a challenge to recognize cues of grief in children. If these signs appear to stick out to you then don't hesitate to make an appointment because they could impair a child's interpersonal relationships, educational success and confidence.