How to Get Counseling for Children With Social Anxiety Disorder
Children with social anxiety disorder struggle with social interactions and situations where they are expected to perform, as in school. Social anxiety causes affected children to avoid school, birthday parties, playdates and other settings that require them to initiate conversations or participate in normal activities. When treated, social anxiety can be well-managed, but if left untreated, this disorder can have a powerfully negative impact on an individual's life.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Observe your child for signs of social anxiety disorder. A child with this disorder is excessively fearful of social interaction, may avoid eye contact, struggles in situations where public speaking is required and may refuse to attend school, claiming symptoms like headache and stomachache.
-
2
Have him evaluated by a mental health professional who has experience with socially anxious children, if you suspect this is an issue for your child.
-
-
3
Seek professional mental health treatment for her, once she has been diagnosed. Treatment might involve medication, cognitive behavioral therapy and/or other psychological interventions, as well as school and home accommodations, so look for a counselor or therapist who can address the disorder on all fronts.
-
4
Locate a counselor or therapist by talking to your child's pediatrician, contacting a local mental health clinic or checking PsychologyToday.com's online directory of mental health care providers.
-
5
Find three or four therapists in your area who treat children with social anxiety. Call each one and ask about his educational background, experience with social anxiety disorder in children, availability and cost. Consider your phone conversation with each one a kind of job interview.
-
6
Decide which of the therapists you'd like to work with your child, and make an appointment. Take your child to the appointment, and be prepared to talk to the therapist about your child's difficulties and symptoms and what you hope to gain from treatment.
-
7
Keep the lines of communication open with the therapist. Report any new symptoms your child may experience. Ask about medication if your child seems not to be improving with psychological interventions alone.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
When seeking a mental health professional to treat your child's social anxiety, look for a treatment provider who is trained in cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). CBT is often highly effective in treating social anxiety disorder. It teaches the individual how to change the way he or she thinks about a situation, so that when an anxiety-producing situation presents itself, the reaction is not necessarily one of anxiety.
Social anxiety can be crippling for children and particularly for adolescents, who typically feel more self-conscious simply as a part of their development. At a time when teenagers want to have an active social life and not to be different from their peers, social anxiety can make them withdraw and seem apart from their friends and classmates. Finding professional help for socially anxious children and adolescents, therefore, is crucial, so that they can take part in life and avoid other effects on their mental health such as depression, low self-esteem and related issues.
