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When should I seek professional help for my child?
ANSWER -- provided by Yeshim Oz, MA, MS, LMHP
Thinking about counseling for children is something that no parent wants to go
through. The decision to go see a professional counselor is usually a drag for
many parents. This is partly because many do not know or can’t decide if there is
something wrong with their child(ren) and for some others it is hard to admit that
there is something wrong.
I first want to answer the question for the first type of parents: those who do not
know or cannot make a call if there is something wrong. Here the first thing to do
is to get knowledgeable about the normal development of childhood. Any
pediatrician or your child’s school counselor/school psychologist can provide you
with this information, especially regarding the socio-emotional aspects of normal
development. To give an example; it is pretty normal for a kindergartener at the
beginning of the school year to be nervous or afraid to go to school, but it is a
red flag if your 4th grader refuses to go to school. In the latter case, it is
advisable to seek professional help if the problem persists. So, as a rule of
thumb, if you are not sure whether you should see a professional regarding your
child’s behavior of concern, find out where his/her behavior falls in the
developmental scope.
In addition, the checklist below might help you to determine if you need to see a
professional counselor:
Remember, this checklist is just a general overview of problematic situations.Every child and every family is different. You also need to take into account the
wonderful fact of uniqueness. However, if the behavior(s) in question interferes
with the daily functioning of your child and/or your family, consulting a
professional counselor is advisable and would do no harm. Unresolved issues in
childhood can hinder future academic and social success. Therapy can help
children resolve current problems by teaching a child various ways to cope.
ANSWER -- provided by Yeshim Oz, MA, MS, LMHP
Thinking about counseling for children is something that no parent wants to go
through. The decision to go see a professional counselor is usually a drag for
many parents. This is partly because many do not know or can’t decide if there is
something wrong with their child(ren) and for some others it is hard to admit that
there is something wrong.
I first want to answer the question for the first type of parents: those who do not
know or cannot make a call if there is something wrong. Here the first thing to do
is to get knowledgeable about the normal development of childhood. Any
pediatrician or your child’s school counselor/school psychologist can provide you
with this information, especially regarding the socio-emotional aspects of normal
development. To give an example; it is pretty normal for a kindergartener at the
beginning of the school year to be nervous or afraid to go to school, but it is a
red flag if your 4th grader refuses to go to school. In the latter case, it is
advisable to seek professional help if the problem persists. So, as a rule of
thumb, if you are not sure whether you should see a professional regarding your
child’s behavior of concern, find out where his/her behavior falls in the
developmental scope.
In addition, the checklist below might help you to determine if you need to see a
professional counselor:
 | Change in school performance | |
| Changes in sleeping/eating patterns | |
| Persistent nightmares | |
| Persistent disobedience or aggression (longer than six months) | |
| Self-harm or harm to others | |
| Severe worry or anxiety manifested as refusing to go to school, go |
- to sleep, or participate in activities which are normal for the child’s age.
| Depression manifested by prolonged negative mood and attitude | |
| Thoughts of death and suicide | |
| Engaging in dangerous/illegal activities |
Remember, this checklist is just a general overview of problematic situations.
wonderful fact of uniqueness. However, if the behavior(s) in question interferes
with the daily functioning of your child and/or your family, consulting a
professional counselor is advisable and would do no harm. Unresolved issues in
childhood can hinder future academic and social success. Therapy can help
children resolve current problems by teaching a child various ways to cope.
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Parenting Questions & Answers - Professional Help
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