How a Psychologist Can Help Your Child
If you're a parent and you're feeling at a loss for what to do with your child who has been diagnosed with some kind of psychological disorder, fret not. Child psychologists have the expertise and experience necessary to help your child overcome their problems. In this post, we'll go through the most common disorders both children and teens can be diagnosed with as well as how a psychologist can help. Some of these disorders include behaviour disorders, developmental disorders, anxiety, depression and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
Anxiety and depression
Children and teens who struggle with anxiety or depression can receive medical help, but psychologists can develop strategies to help alleviate their symptoms. A psychologist can help a child to identify and properly label his or her anxieties, explore alternative explanations of anxieties, and find strategies to manage anxieties. In turn, these strategies may help to reduce fears and anxieties as children grow older.
Behavioural disorders
Behavioural disorders are typically associated with children's personalities or learning disabilities. They include attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), oppositional defiant disorder (ODD), conduct disorder (CD), and intermittent explosive disorder (IED). Children can be diagnosed with these conditions when they exhibit repetitive and challenging/negative behaviours that cause distress to themselves or others.
Often, children who are diagnosed with one of the above disorders may feel as though they are not coping with the stress it causes. If a child is struggling and feels as though he or she can't cope, a child psychologist can help them to identify and cope with their stressors. If the child is unable to reduce stressors and is unable to manage their emotions then a psychologist can help develop strategies that will allow the child to deal with their anxiety as well as teach the child coping skills.
Developmental disorders
Developmental disorders can be considered generalised developmental delays, which means that children experience intellectual, motoric or adaptive deficits which affect their everyday functioning. Children with developmental disorders may show a range of emotional and behavioural issues. A child psychologist can look for a developmental disorder in a child's behaviour by asking the child questions, observing their behaviour and using testing methods to establish whether the problems are developmental in nature.
If you would like to find out more, you should contact a child psychology professional in your area today. They will be happy to offer you a consultation and to answer any questions you may have.