Krystal Kuehn

Child & Teen Depression Therapy: Helping Kids Cope & Overcome



Posted: Thursday, November 19, 2009

by Krystal Kuehn
New Day Counseling

Depression is serious and often goes untreated in children and teens. Symptoms are commonly overlooked or minimized as part of growing up or something that will pass with time.

Depression has a negative impact on a child's development, school performance, and relationships. Children and adolescents with depression feel sad or hopeless. They might be easily irritated or angry. They lose interest and motivation for the things they once enjoyed. They may feel bad about themselves and lack in confidence. Some complain of stomach problems, headaches, or some other physical discomforts. Sometimes there are changes in their eating habits or sleeping patterns. Hopeless and suicidal thoughts can also afflict them. Major depressive disorder is the leading cause of suicide among youth. Depression in children and teens can be destructive or fatal. Untreated, it can lead to unhealthy and dysfunctional patterns of coping such as withdrawal, isolation, bullying, delinquency, drug use, promiscuity, self-injury, or self-destruction.

Up to 15% of children and adolescents have symptoms of depression at any given time, and 5% meet the criteria for major depressive disorder. Depression can be caused by hormonal changes or chemical imbalances in the brain. It may have a genetic component, running in families for generations. It commonly occurs when triggered by stressful life events, such as a major loss or change. Losing someone to death, separation,or abandonment, changing schools, divorce, physical or emotional abuse, bullying/teasing, rejection, disabilities and illness are common triggers to depression and its symptoms.

Depression is treatable. Child and teen depression therapy is effective in helping children and adolescents overcome the symptoms of depression. With counseling, children and teens soon learn that their feelings can change. There is hope for their future. Life can and will get better. They discover that there are some things they can do to better cope with their problems. They can talk about their pain, frustration, fears, and anger. They learn that they are not alone. Others can understand them and truly care. Getting help for depression early can help prevent future problems and foster healthy growth and development.

Copyright 2009 All Rights Reserved. Krystal Kuehn co-founder of NewDayCounseling.org, Counseling services providers of Child and Teen Depression Therapy and Marriage Family Counseling

Krystal Kuehn, MA, LPC, LLP, NCC is a licensed professional counselor, author, teacher, and musician. She specializes in helping people live their best life now, reach their full potential, overcome barriers, heal from their past, and develop a lifestyle of health, happiness, and love. Krystal is the cofounder of New Day Counseling Services, providers of individual, marriage, family counseling, children and teen depression therapy . She's also the co-founder of BeHappy4Life.com, an award-winning, self-improvement and personal growth site where you can find hundreds of free resources, online workshops, video presentations, insights, and inspiration.

This Article has been viewed 329 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (1 total)
» left by Oh Boon Thong
 2 years 164 days ago.
4 fans.
Thanks for sharing your thoughts here.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.