About childrenIs your child mentally healthy?

May is Mental Health Month. An increasing number of children are receiving mental health services, but we know only a fraction of all individuals who could benefit from mental health services actually seek services.

Mental health services can range from a few sessions to help resolve an immediate problem, such as depression related to the loss of a loved one, to long-term therapy related to chronic illness, prior abuse or chemical imbalances within the body. We all experience times when we need help; childhood and adolescence is no exception.

Unfortunately, there is still a stigma against those with mental health issues. People who would not hesitate to seek medical services for their diabetic child do hesitate to get mental health services. No one thinks twice about taking a child to get a broken leg or arm treated by trained professionals.

But these same parents often hesitate to get professional treatment for hidden injuries, those that are within their child. Much of this hesitance is due to lack of knowledge about mental health issues in children.

First, let's look at psychotherapy for children. Psychotherapy refers to a variety of techniques and methods used to help children and adolescents who are experiencing emotional and behavioral difficulties. There are different methods, or types, of psychotherapy, but all are based on communication as the primary tool used to bring about a change in a person's feeling or behaviors.

Psychotherapy can take place one-on-one, in a group or with the entire family. Communication may take the form of play, drawing, and role-playing, as well as talking.

Art therapy is often useful with young children. They often have a limited vocabulary, but can draw what they feel -- or what they saw -- that is causing the problem.

As part of a child's initial assessment a child and adolescent psychiatrist will determine the need for psychotherapy. This will be accomplished by assessing the child's current problems, history -- both medical and social -- developmental level, ability to enter into therapy and which form of intervention is likely to be most helpful for the child's problem.

Psychotherapy is often used as a part of a combination of treatments including medication and behavior management programs for both home and school.

A word of caution -- one size does not fit all. By that I mean that your child must trust, and feel comfortable and safe, with his or her psychotherapist. Just as adults do not always feel connected to everyone they meet, so it is with children.

Some children do better with male therapists, others with females. Some do better with therapists of the same sex, others do better with therapists of the opposite sex. Do not give up if your child does not connect with the first therapist -- keep looking.

There is a therapist who can help your child. Once the trust relationship has been established, therapy can progress. But be cautioned: the therapist/child relationship, as in any relationship may take a few weeks, or even months, to get to the point where the connection is solid and serious therapy work is done.

Psychotherapy for children benefits children by giving the child emotional support, conflict resolution, self-awareness of his or her feeling and problems, and new coping techniques to help them deal with life. The length of therapy depends in large part on the issue being addressed.

As with any other service, it pays to be an informed consumer. Read, go on the internet, talk to mental health professionals. Your child can have a mentally healthy future.

Bev Theil is a child advocate in Wayne and Holmes counties. She can be contacted at BeverlyVT@aol.com.

Credit: By BEV THEIL