How Child Counsellors Can Help Children with Depression Feel Better

As a parent, it can be painful to watch your child go through depression. Knowing when and how to get professional mental health support for your child can make a big difference in your child’s life. While seeking a psychotherapist or a child therapist is rarely an easy decision, the right support and guidance from these practitioners can empower children with depression to feel better and cope with their condition more effectively.

In this blog post, we’ll look at why turning to child counselling could help children with depression and help them take control of their lives.

Symptoms of Depression in Children

It’s important to understand the symptoms of depression in children so that parents, teachers, and caregivers can provide the necessary support and treatment. Common signs of depression in children may include:

• Changes in mood
• Loss of appetite or a change in eating habits
• Trouble sleeping or a change in sleep patterns
• Loss of interest
• Low self-esteem
• Easily irritable
• Fatigue
• Trouble concentrating
• Suicidal thoughts
• Withdrawal from social activities
• Physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach-aches, flu-like symptoms
• Uncharacteristic behaviours, such as aggression, lying, stealing, etc.

The Impact of Depression on Children

Depression can manifest differently in children than in adults, making it harder to identify and treat. Not only can depression affect a child’s mood and behaviour, but it can also interfere with their ability to learn and socialize with their peers.

Children who experience depression are also at greater risk of developing other mental illnesses and have a higher likelihood of engaging in self-harm and suicidal ideation. The impact of depression on children is significant, and it’s crucial that we prioritize their mental health and provide them with the support and resources they need for coping with child depression.

How Counsellors Can Help Children with Depression

Below are some ways child counselling for depression can help your child take control of their emotions and thrive.

• Counselling helps children with depression to identify and understand their emotions, so they recognize when they are feeling down and how to manage their feelings in a healthy way.

• Through counselling sessions, child counsellors can help children identify negative thought patterns and challenge them with more positive ones that will help boost their self-esteem and outlook on life.

• Child counselling services can create a safe and trusting environment, which allows the child to open up about their experiences and feelings.

• Counselling educates parents and children about depression, its causes, symptoms, and treatments, which helps children to better understand their condition.

• Child and teen counselling services can help children develop social skills by teaching them communication techniques such as active listening or assertiveness training.

• Counsellors can teach children various coping mechanisms such as relaxation exercises or mindfulness techniques, as well as provide guidance, feedback, encouragement, and cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) in order to improve moods and behaviours associated with depression in children.

• Counselling sessions are often focused on building resilience and involve teaching the child how they can use failure as an opportunity for growth while encouraging them to set realistic goals that are achievable yet challenging enough.

Get Help for Child Depression from Experienced Counsellors at Family Matters Centre

If your child is struggling with depression and you’re unsure of what to do next, Family Matters Centre can offer support and guidance aimed at managing depression in children. Our experienced psychotherapists and child therapists specialize in helping children and families navigate the difficulties of depression.

With a compassionate and evidence-based approach, we can help your child gain the tools they need to manage their emotions and restore their well-being. Don’t hesitate to get help for your child—contact us today at (905) 466-8023 or fill out our contact form to request an appointment.