Defense mechanisms are unconscious psychological responses, defined initially by Sigmund Freud in his psychoanalytic theory. People utilize defense mechanisms to protect themselves from psychological distress, such as trauma, threats to self-esteem, and anxiety. Defense mechanisms manifest in various ways; however, denial and avoidance are commonly...
Learning is essential to acquire new skills, knowledge, and understanding to promote personal and professional growth opportunities. Learning also helps us adapt to problems and challenges that occur in our lives. By gaining knowledge from experiences, we improve our ability to think critically and solve...
Mental health diagnoses such as ADHD, depression, conduct disorders, and anxiety are among the most prevalent in our youth. A study conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has identified that 9.4% of children ages 3 to 17 were diagnosed with anxiety...
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...
One benefit that rose from the COVID-19 pandemic is greater innovation, creativity, and a push for virtually-based options in healthcare and behavioral health. Telepsychiatry and telehealth counseling were almost nonexistent before 2020; however, there has been an explosion of services offered via virtual platforms since...
The U.S. Department of Health & Human Services reports that mental health treatment needs have increased significantly. One in five adults experiences a mental health concern, and at least one in six youth have experienced clinical depression. Suicide claimed the lives of more than 45,000 Americans in...
Screening and early detection positively influence treatment outcomes for young children. Early identification promotes more rapid treatment interventions, allowing youth to recover and benefit from their education, develop healthy relationships, access employment, and prevent the onset of more chronic and debilitating conditions as adults. The American...
Asking if a person is an introvert or an extrovert might be a great icebreaker. There is, however, considerable psychology behind these personality types and how they influence mental health. Psychologists and educators must consider introverted characteristics when treating and educating youth in this group. Personality...
Parents and parenting styles play an essential role in developing a child's mental health. Limited empirical research exists on the impact of narcissistic mothers on the mental well-being of their children. Narcissism, however, is evidence of a deep emotional wound or trauma that has not...
Emotional expression is a monumental developmental task in childhood and adolescence, and considerable research has shown gender differences. These differences influence the expression of mental health symptoms. To successfully ameliorate symptoms afflicting youth, diagnostic practices, and treatment interventions need to address the influence gender has...
Behavioral health conditions in childhood and adolescence can be either externalizing or internalizing in nature. The type of disorder influences the rate of linkage to treatment, the level of involvement in parental involvement in treatment, and treatment outcomes. Additional research into internalizing and externalizing concepts...
Pediatric onset obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is one of the more common mental illnesses for children and adolescents. Research suggests that the prevalence of pediatric OCD (POCD) is estimated to be about 3%. Symptom manifestations can lead to severe impairment and conflict within the family. Serious mental health...
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) is one of the ten most disabling disorders. The prevalence of the onset of OCD in childhood is relatively high, with 1 to 3% of children experiencing this disorder. Untreated, research links child-onset OCD with significant functional impairment...
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 Pediatrics reports...
Treating mood disorders in children and adolescents requires a specialized approach for successful outcomes. Merely altering the treatment modality used for an adult population will not yield the support needed for the unique needs of children and adolescents. First mental health professionals require a complex...
The versatility and effectiveness of Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) in treating various populations continues to be validated by research in the field. Opportunities for change exist in the responses to youthful offenders, with research supporting a treatment philosophy versus one of punishment. The Office of Juvenile...
Ever-changing challenges in this modern era, such as post-pandemic reintegration into work and school and the battle over technology, place many more challenges on families. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) reports that the need for family therapy continues to rise, with a 50-fold...
Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) is a treatment option developed for children who have experienced a traumatic event and suffer symptoms consistent with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) reports that more than two-thirds of children identify that...
Technological advancement in this digital age creates an ever-changing landscape for mental healthcare. There has never been a greater need for psychologists to have new and innovative means to reach people struggling with increased psychological distress. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on...
Historically, diagnosing mental illness is not like diagnosing other chronic diseases. MRIs, X-rays, nor EKGs can detect the presence of a psychiatric illness. As recent as 2012, psychiatric professionals have claimed that identifying a mental illness is more “subjective.” The American Psychological Association reported in...
Good mental health is the buzz in this post-pandemic world. Everywhere you turn, there is evidence of the focus on mental health. In June of 2022, the Federal government passed legislation that would reauthorize and expand behavioral health programs. Technology allows people to access mental health...
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...
Mental illness does not discriminate who it will afflict and while many people feel like childhood is a carefree time in life, this is when most mental illnesses will begin to develop. The onset of mental health symptoms generally occurs when most children are entering...
Spending any time watching the News can leave you feeling bewildered and confused about what seems to be a high prevalence of violence in our society. Violence however, as a human behavior can be better understood when you examine the factors that contribute to people...
Childhood mental health symptoms and illnesses can be terrifying for parents and families to face. When you notice your child is struggling with anxiety, ADHD, depression or struggling to engage in interpersonal relationships with their peers, it can be difficult to know the best methods...
The possibility of a mental health diagnosis, especially for children, can invoke a lot of fear. Parents and guardians may avoid identifying or responding to changes in their child’s mood or behavior, in part due to the misconceptions that this fear can invoke. Research however...
The use of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) as a means of treating childhood symptoms of depression and anxiety continues to gain traction as an effective evidence-based practice. A 2015 review published in the Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology reports that CBT is an...
In the year 2020, there was approximately 6 million children ages 0 to 17 taking psychiatric medications and with surge in behavioral health symptoms youth are experiencing as a result of the pandemic, that number is only going to increase. There is concern however about...
Anger in young children may signify more than just a “tantrum” and could be a warning sign of a more pervasive emotional crisis. Children lack the verbal skills to communicate the underlying causes of their emotional reactions and also do not possess the skill to...
In April of this year, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) published a large compilation of research and resources addressing barriers in access to essential mental health care for children. The CDC cites that nearly one in five children experiences symptoms of an emotional or...