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Struggling in school, withdrawing from friends, worrying about family issues – these are all signs of a child trying to cope with anxiety.
These situations are not easy for a parent to handle. And, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one in six U.S. youth aged 6-17 experience a mental health disorder each year.
Jewish Family Services of Delaware (JFS) offers both group and individual programs designed to help children and the adults close to them learn how to manage anxiety issues...
“When we get the children together, they realize they are not alone, that they are not the only one, that others are telling similar stories,” says Michael Angelo, JFS Director of Clinical Services. “Hearing from others normalizes the process and gets them out of their shells.”
Participants know that everything that is discussed in the support group setting is confidential, “what is said in the room stays in the room,” Angelo says.
In some situations, parents and counselors recognize that a child would benefit from one-on-one therapy beyond what the support group offers.
Andrew, a parent from Wilmington, described how his son Henry, who recently completed fifth grade, has been helped by group and individual therapy. Henry was in second grade when Andrew and his wife decided to end their marriage. The family’s issues confused and disturbed Henry, who would overwork himself, become ill, struggle in school and question his role in the family.
“His self-esteem is now so much better. As a parent I don’t worry as much. I think Henry can take a situation and handle it,” Andrew said.
Henry agrees. The group sessions he attended were “fun,” he said, and individual therapy has greatly improved his outlook. “I used to throw up a lot when things would go wrong. Now I rarely think about bad stuff, like family problems. I feel a lot better."
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