How Therapy Can Help Children and Teens Struggling with Depression
By: Jennifer Ponce de Leon, MA, LPC Associate
Supervised by: Melissa Barton, MA, LPC-S, CCTP, LCDC
When a child or teen is struggling with depression, it can be a tough and confusing time, both for them and the people who care about them. Depression in young people often doesn’t look the same as it does in adults. Sometimes, it shows up as irritability, frustration, or even physical symptoms like headaches and stomach aches. Teens might seem tired all the time, lose interest in things they used to enjoy, or pull away from friends and family. It’s easy to think it’s just a phase, but when depression isn’t addressed, it can affect everything from school to friendships to their overall sense of well-being.
Therapy offers a caring, safe space for kids and teens to talk about what they’re going through and get the support they need. Here’s how it can really make a difference:
1. Helping Them Understand Their Feelings
Sometimes kids and teens don’t have the words to describe what’s going on inside. They might feel sad or upset without knowing why, and that can be scary or frustrating. A therapist can gently guide them toward understanding their emotions. For younger kids, this might involve drawing, playing, or using stories to help them explain their feelings. Teens might be more comfortable talking things out or using creative outlets like writing. When kids learn to understand and express their emotions, it can lift a big weight off their shoulders.
2. Teaching Healthy Coping Tools
When depression strikes, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. Many kids and teens don’t yet have the skills to deal with these big emotions in a healthy way. In therapy, they’ll learn simple, practical tools to help them manage stress, sadness, and anxiety. One of the most effective approaches is cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), which teaches them how to recognize and change unhelpful thoughts. They might also practice mindfulness or relaxation exercises to help calm their minds and bodies when things feel too much. These are skills that can help not just now but for the rest of their lives.
3. Boosting Problem-Solving Confidence
When a young person is feeling low, even small challenges can feel like mountains to climb. In therapy, they’ll learn how to break problems down into smaller steps and work through them one at a time. This helps them feel more capable and less overwhelmed. It also builds their confidence, showing them they can handle tough situations, which is an important part of managing depression.
4. Improving Relationships
Depression can sometimes make kids and teens feel disconnected from the people they care about. Therapy can help them improve communication and strengthen their relationships with family members or friends. Family therapy can be especially helpful because it gives everyone a chance to learn how to support each other better. When children feel understood and supported by their family, it can make a big difference in how they cope with depression.
5. Building Self-Esteem and Identity
One of the hardest parts of depression is the negative thoughts it brings, like feeling unworthy or unimportant. Therapists help kids and teens work on building self-esteem by focusing on their strengths and celebrating small victories. For teens, therapy can also provide a safe place to explore who they are, which is so important during this stage of life. Feeling more confident and secure in themselves helps them push back against depression and develop a stronger, healthier sense of self.
Therapy offers kids and teens the chance to feel heard, understood, and supported during what can be a difficult time. It gives them the tools they need to handle their emotions, improve their relationships, and grow into resilient, confident individuals. With the right support, they can navigate through depression and come out stronger, ready to live a happier and healthier life.
To begin counseling in Katy, TX follow these three steps:
If you would like to get your child/teen started in therapy, one of the therapists at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch can help! To begin counseling in Katy Texas, follow these three steps:
Contact our office to set up an appointment or to learn more information
Meet with one of our understanding therapists
Discover ways to help your teen thrive.
Other Therapy Services We Offer:
Here at The Counseling Center at Cinco Ranch, we offer counseling services for people of all ages in areas including counseling for kids, counseling for young adults, teen counseling, couples counseling, eating disorder treatment, men’s issues, women’s issues, anxiety treatment, depression therapy, trauma counseling, family therapy, and group counseling. We provide helpful information on a variety of mental health topics. Our therapists strive to post blogs regularly. To learn more about our therapists and counseling services, please reach out to the Counseling Center today!