Children & Teens

Children and teenagers today have a unique life experience that can also be incredibly difficult. This can also be hard for their parents and caregivers to relate to and understand as so many things have changed. 

Just like adults, children and teenagers don’t have the language or tools to understand what they’re feeling and why, or how to manage big emotions. Speaking to a social worker can help children and teenagers with this as well as learn new ways to deal with challenges, build self-esteem and  improve relationships. Speaking to a social worker can also help children and teenagers learn healthy and positive conflict resolution and communication skills. Some examples where children and teenagers struggle can include:

Anxiety: Some common areas of concern can be around illness (ie. them or someone they love getting sick), being kidnapped/ robbed, fascination death or those listed below.

Bullying/friendships: Friends can change abruptly and unpredictably. It can help to talk about this with a neutral person to better understand what’s happening and how to deal with it.

Life Changes: It can be hard to handle big and surprising life changes. This can include moving to a new home or school, parent’s divorce or grandparents moving away. 

Grief and Loss: The impact depends on the person’s age, stage of development and how everyone in the family is coping. This can look like being more sad/withdrawn, needing more attention or to talk.

Self-esteem: While everyone has moments of insecurity, it can be worrisome when children and teenagers struggle to get through their day, interact with others and learn. 

Anger: Sometimes this can lead to scary outbursts, temper tantrums, throwing things, or feeling out of control. Learning to manage anger can improve self-esteem and feel more empowered.