Child & adolescent transition is the period of emotional growth from childhood into young adulthood. This is an exciting and challenging time for many.
Children react differently than adults do when they are anxious, nervous, scared, angry or depressed. While an adult has the ability to communicate their feelings appropriately to others, a child does not. Many younger children will “act their feelings out” instead of verbally communicating these feelings appropriately. Every child is different. While some may adapt to change easily, others do not and need more reassurance and support. Adjustment problems can be common in children, especially in situations like divorce, changing schools, puberty, moving to a new area, or struggling to learn a new subject.
For teens, it is especially hard avoiding the pressures of “fitting in” and wanting to be liked by peers. Parents want their teens to do well in school and get along with family and peers. This can be difficult when hormones are changing, rapid growth spurts occur, and lots of increased pressures are being placed on teens today. As their stress levels increase, this can cause many to become moody, argumentative, and even depressed.
Allowing your child to engage in outpatient psychotherapy can be just the thing that they need. Therapy can help kids mature, improve their problem solving, change unwanted behavior, and learn to take more responsibility for their own actions. It is also important that the family have good communication so that the children have a strong support system within their family.
