Teen Issues

In The Garden Counseling for Teen Issues

Teen / Children Issues

For a child, pre-teen, or teen with symptoms of a mental disorder, the earlier treatment is started, the more effective it can be. Early treatment can help prevent more severe, lasting problems as a child grows up.

Warning Signs

It can be tough to tell if troubling behavior in a child is just part of growing up or a problem that should be discussed with a health professional.  If there are signs and symptoms that last weeks or months; and if these issues cause impairment in daily functioning, not only at home but at school and with friends, you should contact a health professional.

Your child or teen might need help if he or she:

  • Often feels anxious or worried
  • Has very frequent tantrums or is intensely irritable much of the time
  • Has frequent stomachaches or headaches with no physical explanation
  • Is in constant motion, can’t sit quietly for any length of time
  • Has trouble sleeping, including frequent nightmares
  • Loses interest in things he or she used to enjoy
  • Avoids spending time with friends
  • Has trouble doing well in school, or grades decline
  • Fears gaining weight; exercises, diets obsessively
  • Has low or no energy
  • Has spells of intense, inexhaustible activity
  • Harms herself/himself, such as cutting or burning her/his skin
  • Engages in risky, destructive behavior
  • Harms self or others
  • Smokes, drinks, or uses drugs
  • Has thoughts of suicide
  • Thinks his or her mind is controlled or out of control, hears voices
    (Source: nimh.nih.gov)

According to the Population Reference Bureau (PRB)  Suicides have become the second-leading cause of death among teens in the United States, surpassing homicide deaths, which dropped to third on the list. The teenage suicide rate increased from 8 deaths per 100,000 in 1999 to 8.7 deaths per 100,000 in 2014. (prb.org)

It may be helpful for children and teens to save several emergency numbers to their cell phones. The ability to get immediate help for themselves or for a friend can make a difference.

  • The phone number for a trusted friend or relative
  • The non-emergency number for the local police department
  • The Crisis Text Line: 741741
  • The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 988

If you or your child is thinking about harming yourself get help immediately. You can call 911 or the National Suicide Prevention Line at 988.

ADHD

ADHD Counseling

Attention- Deficit/ Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

Signs and Symptoms

It is normal for children to have trouble focusing and behaving at one time or another. However, children with ADHD do not just grow out of these behaviors. The symptoms continue and can cause difficulty at school, at home, or with friends.

A child with ADHD might:

  • daydream a lot
  • forget or lose things a lot
  • squirm or fidget
  • talk too much
  • make careless mistakes or take unnecessary risks
  • have a hard time resisting temptation
  • have trouble taking turns
  • have difficulty getting along with others

    Types of ADHD:

  • Predominantly Inattentive Presentation: It is hard for the individual to organize or finish a task, to pay attention to details, or to follow instructions or conversations. The person is easily distracted or forgets details of daily routines.
  • Predominantly Hyperactive-Impulsive Presentation: The person fidgets and talks a lot. It is hard to sit still for long (e.g., for a meal or while doing homework). Smaller children may run, jump or climb constantly. The individual feels restless and has trouble with impulsivity. Someone who is impulsive may interrupt others a lot, grab things from people, or speak at inappropriate times. It is hard for the person to wait their turn or listen to directions. A person with impulsiveness may have more accidents and injuries than others.
  • Combined Presentation: Symptoms of the above two types are equally present in the person.Because symptoms can change over time, the presentation may change over time as well.

    Treatments

    In most cases, ADHD is best treated with a combination of behavior therapy and medication. For preschool-aged children (4-5 years of age) with ADHD, behavior therapy, particularly training for parents, is recommended as the first line of treatment. No single treatment is the answer for every child and good treatment plans will include close monitoring, follow-ups and any changes needed along the way.

    If you are concerned about a child’s behavior, it is important to discuss these concerns with the child’s healthcare provider.

    Checklist: Signs and Symptoms of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

    This checklist describes the types of symptoms that a healthcare provider will ask about in the process of deciding whether a child has ADHD. You can use this checklist to help you start the conversation.

    Deciding if a child has ADHD is a process with several steps. There is no single test to diagnose ADHD, and many other problems, like anxiety, depression, sleep problems, and certain types of learning disabilities, can have similar symptoms.

    The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual, Fifth edition (DSM-5) is used by mental health professionals to help diagnose ADHD. The criteria are presented here in modified form in order to make them more accessible to the general public. They are listed here for information purposes and should be used only by trained healthcare providers to diagnose or treat ADHD.

    Simply fill out the child’s name, age and today’s date and then check off the signs or symptoms the child has shown.  Print and take the completed checklist to your child’s healthcare provider.
    (Source: Center for Disease Control and Prevention/ www.cdc.gov)

    https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/adhd/documents/ADHD-symptom-checklist.pdf

Parenting

Parenting Counseling Iredell County

Counseling and therapy for parents can be beneficial in various ways. Some parents may become stressed by a particular parenting challenge, be it a one-time event or recurring situation. When a child faces a mental health concern, or behavioral issue, a parent may find help for the children leaving their own emotions, and feelings, unaddressed.

This can be harmful in some cases as stress may accumulate, and leave the parent feeling overwhelmed. In therapy, a parent can address their feelings about certain issues, find support and guidance, and seek professional help for parenting issues and concerns. 

Being proactive is a great way to avoid the raised stressed levels of parenting with avoiding your own emotional support. However, if you find yourself matching any or all of these simple indicators we encourage you to reach out and contact us so we can help you.

Parent Counseling Need Indicators:

  • Shortened Temper
  • Emotional Outburst
  • Experiencing Depression on someone else’s behalf

It is good to recognize that while some of the indicators of needing parenting counseling may seem obvious there are multiple indicators that may be unique to you and you’re personality. If you feel there has been a large change in your behavior or emotional state stemming from becoming a parent or would like to develop better methods of responding to your child/children by utilizing positive parenting techniques,  please contact us today to schedule the initial session.

Background experience consists of assisting parents in learning and developing parenting techniques through a local child abuse prevention agency.  Positive outcomes are evidence of my passion for working with children and their families.

Additional Recommended Resources:

https://www.amazon.com/Things-Known-Before-Became-Parents/dp/B01KW946DK

Family

Family Counseling Services in Statesville

Family Counseling builds a bond to strengthen and unite your family

Family counseling is beneficial when a family experiences any stressful event or crisis that may strain family relationships. These consist of things such as financial hardship, divorce, or the death of a loved one. It can also be effective in treating mental health concerns that impact the family as a whole, such as depression, substance abuse, chronic illness, or everyday concerns, such as communication problems, interpersonal conflict, or behavioral problems in children and adolescents.

The overall goal of family counseling is to promote understanding, and collaboration among family members, in order to solve the problems of one or more individuals. For example, if a child is having social and academic problems, therapy will focus on the family patterns that may contribute to the child’s acting out, rather than evaluating the child’s behavior alone. As the family uncovers the source of the problem, they can learn to support the child, and other family members, while working proactively on minimizing or altering the conditions that contribute to the child’s unwanted behavior.

Johannah has worked in a school environment for approximately 20 years. This included grades K-12.  A portion of this experience was obtained while working in an alternative school setting. In addition to this, Johannah taught a college success course in the early college program at Mitchell Community College in Statesville, NC.  She also assisted parents in learning and developing parenting skills and techniques through a local child abuse prevention agency.  Positive outcomes are evidence that she has a passion for working with children and their families.  Contact us today to schedule sessions as a means of assisting your family with current symptoms that are being experienced.

COVID-19 NOTICE:

Now scheduling Telehealth online video/phone sessions. This is a simple process that complies with HIPAA requirements to ensure privacy & security. Contact In The Garden Counseling for more information.