Parenting is largely an amateur sport. Nobody gets to practice beforehand, and while there is plenty of advice available in the form of books and online resources, much of this is contradictory and some of it is simply wrong.

Children, adolescents, and teens are not immune to the stressors of life. Therapy may benefit children and teens in a variety of ways, such as promoting healing from traumatic events, facilitating the expression of emotions, encouraging the development of positive decision-making skills, learning problem-solving skills, developing better social skills, and facilitating the communication of personal problems or concerns.

Signs your child may benefit from counseling include:

• Difficulties at school, either with teachers, friends or academics.
• Sudden changes in mood or behavior.
• Frequent stomachaches or headaches with no apparent physical cause.
• Difficulties with sleeping, eating or going to the bathroom.
• Irritability, extreme “temper tantrums,” excessive anger or aggression.
• Sad or scary dreams, nightmares, or fantasies.
• Preoccupation with ideas, thoughts or feelings that seem age inappropriate
• The experience of a traumatic or overwhelming event
• Self-harm or suicidal thoughts
• Social media conduct