Cognitive restructuring is a core component of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT). It helps children notice unhelpful thoughts, examine whether those thoughts are accurate or useful, and consider more balanced ways of interpreting situations. For many children, this process can strengthen emotional awareness, problem solving, coping,...
Children have thousands of thoughts each day. Some are helpful, some are neutral, and some are upsetting. A child might think, “I’m going to make a mistake,” “Nobody likes me,” “My teacher is mad at me,” or “I can’t handle this.” These thoughts can feel so...
Anxiety in children is often imagined as visible nervousness, frequent worries, or fearfulness. A child may ask repeated questions, seek reassurance, avoid unfamiliar situations, or complain of stomachaches before school. While these can certainly be signs of anxiety, childhood anxiety does not always present in...
Technology has changed the way children learn, communicate and engage with the world around them. When used thoughtfully, it can also become a meaningful tool in supporting children's mental health. For many children, especially those who benefit from visual, interactive and repeated practice, technology can help...
Rebuilding Engagement Through Action Low motivation and withdrawal in children are often misunderstood as laziness, defiance, or lack of interest. In reality, these patterns are frequently linked to low mood, anxiety, or reduced reinforcement in a child’s environment. Children may begin to disengage from activities they...
Supporting Flexibility, Resilience, and Healthy Achievement Perfectionism in high-functioning children is often overlooked—or even reinforced—because it can present as strong academic performance, high motivation, and attention to detail. However, beneath these strengths, many children experience significant anxiety, fear of mistakes, and rigid self-expectations that can interfere...
According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, or NAMI, about 20% of American adults will experience a mental illness each year. That is more than 52 million people. Children also experience high rates of mental illness each year, with more than 7.5 million youth...
Recently, a parent asked me to recommend a good mental health app for her child struggling with a mental health issue. I told her that while no app can substitute the benefits of therapy with a licensed professional, mental health apps can supplement a therapist...
Screening, early detection, and intervention are effective weapons against the life-long consequences of serious mental illness. Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, or OCD, is one of the most common psychiatric illnesses to manifest during childhood or adolescence, with the mean age of onset being ten years. The American Academy of...
Memories are unlike a video camera, accurately recording events to be played back—instead, the memories can be distorted by interfering information or other memory distortions. The plasticity of human memory makes it susceptible to manipulation. Distorted or false information, when introduced after the event or...
Mental health professionals are frequently challenged to make clinical differential diagnoses between personality and mood disorders. As the clinical presentation of these disorders share significant features and frequently co-occurs, it can be arduous to disentangle the cause of the individual's psychopathological symptoms. While mood and...
The U.S. Surgeon General issued a social media and youth mental health advisory in 2023. This report highlights that despite this wide spread use of social media, there is limited research into the impact of social media on mental health, particularly in youth. While there...
Executive functioning is not about knowing things, it's about using what you know for effective performance in life for social, occupational, and educational effectiveness. -Russell Barkley...
"Anxiety is a lot like a toddler. It never stops talking, tells you you're wrong about everything, and wakes you up at 3 a.m." -Anonymous...
School refusal, also known as school avoidance, occurs when a youth routinely refuses to attend school or has trouble staying there. This behavior typically is based in anxiety or some other emotional distress. School refusal statistics are difficult to accurately determine, as youth may routinely miss...
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)is a condition that can significantly affect children and adolescents with debilitating effects both in their social relationships and within the school environment. International OCD Foundation (2018) found that youth diagnosed with OCD are 40-60% less likely to meet educational milestones. Genetic, neurological and...
The Role of Imaginary Friends in Child Development Research on imaginary friends has evolved over the years, moving away from the perception of these companions as a cause for concern. Children may use the relationship with this companion to develop needed skills in social interaction, creative...
Play Therapy Play therapy leverages the natural medium of play to help children express their feelings and work through conflicts. In play therapy, toys, games, and activities are more than just playthings; they serve as tools for communication. Therapists observe how children use play to recreate...
Cognitive restructuring (CR) is a technique in CBT in which the therapist helps the client identify negative thoughts that adversely impact their emotional well-being. Understanding Cognitive Restructuring Cognitive restructuring (CR) involves identifying, challenging, and ultimately replacing these negative thoughts with more balanced and realistic ones. Adapting cognitive...
Alex, a 9-year-old boy, was referred to therapy due to severe anxiety about school and school refusal behaviors. He risks being held back due to his poor academic outcomes. During his session, the therapist identifies a narrative of feeling left out or different. He often...
Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is one of the most frequently diagnosed neurodevelopmental disorders in children, characterized by inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2016 to 2019), an estimated number of children aged 3–17 years diagnosed with ADHD is 6...
Students' mental health is a cornerstone that either supports or undermines their learning experiences. The 2022 National Healthcare Quality and Disparities Report identified that the United States is experiencing a youth mental health crisis, with nearly 20% of children and young people aged 3-17 diagnosed with a...
Alex's case highlights the potential for positive outcomes when evidence based, multi-faceted interventions are employed as described below: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) There is empirical evidence that CBT programs in schools can also help prevent or reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in children and adolescents. CBT for...
Alex's case highlights the potential for positive outcomes when evidence based, multi-faceted interventions are employed as described below: Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) There is empirical evidence that CBT programs in schools can also help prevent or reduce anxiety and depression symptoms in children and adolescents. CBT for...
In today's digital age, social media has become an integral part of the lives of our youth at younger ages. A 2022 study shows that by age 14, 91% of children have a cell phone. According to Common Sense Media, adolescents use their phones daily, with a median...
Effective Classroom Management Strategies (CMS) can improve an ADHD student's academic success. A partnership between educators and school-based mental health professionals plays a crucial role in supporting students with ADHD. A 2019 study in Children and Schools found that collaboration between educators and school-based mental health staff improved...
Sleep is a crucial factor affecting emotional well-being and has been studied extensively. Although the adverse effects of insufficient sleep on mental health are well-known, the relationship between excessive sleep and mental illness is often ignored. By examining sleep patterns and any changes in them,...
Insomnia, a common sleep disorder characterized by difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep, has long been associated with a myriad of health issues. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (2020), one in every four Americans has sleep disturbance, having trouble falling or staying asleep....
The World Health Organization has deemed OCD as one of the ten most disabling medical illnesses. Delays in identification and treatment can worsen the severity of the episode and adversely impact treatment outcomes, making early identification crucial for effective intervention. One-third of adults who struggle with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder...
How does personality influence mental wellness? Researchers and treatment providers have examined the relationship between overall wellness and personality trait factors to understand the etiology of mental health disorders better, promote prevention, and develop treatment interventions with strong outcomes. The World Health Organization (WHO) has defined wellness as more than...