The Rise of THERAPY KIDS
Photo by Magnific by Julianna Steen
T .he percentage of kids and teens with the introduction of smartphones and social media. “About one in five adolescents have a current, diagnosed mental or behavioral health condition,” the National Library of Medicine’s 2024 survey reports. The same data highlights that between 2016 and 2023, the percentage of kids ages 12–17 who were diagnosed with mental or behavioral issues leaped from 15 percent to 20.3. who go to counseling is on the rise, according to the CDC. And no wonder, Not long ago, admitting you go to therapy was taboo. Fortunately, the cultural conversation has slowly shifted, normalizing the importance of mental health. One of the few benefits we’ve seen from Covid-19 was that it revealed people need an outlet to process what is going on in their lives. Which begs the question: Does your child need therapy?
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN CHOOSING A THERAPIST
But sometimes, you just need additional resources—or your kid needs to hear it from a third party instead of a parent. It can be hard to distinguish between normal childhood struggles and something that warrants professional support because every child is different. However, if it’s a persistent struggle at home or a teacher notices issues in the classroom, that might be your cue. Another sign a child could genuinely benefit from therapy is if they ask for it. “Certain life events—divorce, grief, bullying, moving, anxiety, ADHD, trauma—create difficult life stressors,” shares adolescent therapist Chatham Kennedy. “Therapy can provide your children with the right tools to navigate all of the emotions that come with these circumstances.” Similarly, traumatic experiences can lead to overwhelming emotions that are important for children to work through and process while in a safe space.
“Look for someone that meets your child’s specific needs,” Kennedy says. Whether your child needs help with trauma, ADHD coping skills, or ways to help their anxiety and depression, their therapist should be someone they can relate to, making them a safe space. While it is never the therapist’s job to push their beliefs on someone, you may also want to find a therapist whose values align with your own. Moreover, listen to your child to determine if they’re connecting or not. Sometimes an amazing therapist may be the wrong therapist for your child because their specialty or personality doesn’t fit.
NORMALIZING EMOTIONS
It is really important for children to experience some level of disappointment or failure without immediately trying to “fix” it. “Our nervous system isn’t meant to be a straight line,” Kennedy explains. “It will be filled with positive highs and unfortunately, some difficult lows, and our goal is to teach kids how to deal with these changes in a healthy way.” The aim of therapy isn’t to remove the “bad” emotions: none of our emotions are bad, they all serve a purpose. Rather, it is to help kids learn to care for their emotions instead of shying away from the hard or painful feelings.
WHEN KIDS CAN BENEFIT FROM THERAPY
HOW EARLY IS TOO EARLY?
12 SEPTEMBER 2026 | BIRMINGHAMPARENT.COM Having a safe space is so necessary, but don’t discredit yourself: You have the tools you need to help your kid! There are tons of amazing parental resources out there that can help you navigate different coping mechanisms. Having open, honest conversations with your kids can normalize sharing emotions and feelings so they feel safe to open up and say they need help.
There’s not an official age range when it comes to starting therapy. However, you want to make sure to work with someone who specializes in your child’s age. Zero to 17 is quite the age gap—even if a therapist’s speciality is children, make sure they focus more on your child’s age range or developmental stage.
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