The term mental health can be overwhelming. If you are concerned about your child’s mood or notice a change in behaviors, it is important to get them support. First, check with your medical provider to rule out if the change is due to a medical or physical issue. Once that has been ruled out, start identifying a therapist. When looking for a therapist, it is important to try to find someone who is adoption competent and someone who will look at the holistic picture of a child’s situation. If not, children may receive an inaccurate diagnosis and not get the appropriate treatment. Mood disorders, attention disorders, PTSD, attachment disorders, and sensory integration/processing disorders are some common diagnosis.
Once your child is assessed, the clinician will work to develop goals and a treatment plan. This usually involves individual and sometimes family therapy. At times a higher level of care than outpatient therapy may be needed. There is intensive outpatient (IOP) which is usually a few times a week, and also residential treatment where the child stays 24/7 for a period of time.
Post-Traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) can develop after a child experiences a stressful event, abuse, witnessing violence, or living through a disaster. The trauma may play over and over in their minds and they could have flashbacks. It can also cause nightmares and impact sleep.
- Options for treatment: Trauma-focused cognitive behavioral therapy (TF-CBT) is a psychotherapy for children ages 3-18 who have experienced trauma. It is short-term, structured therapy, provided in 8-25 sessions, each session lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Sessions are divided equally between child and parent. 30 years of research on TF-CBT has shown it to be highly effective in treating posttraumatic stress disorder in children. Practitioners have specific certifications.
- EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) is a psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences.
Depression includes a loss of interest in activities, low energy, lack of motivation, and poor concentration. Children can appear sad, have a change in appetite (loss or overeating), and could start isolating themselves and withdrawing socially.
- Options for treatment: CBT is a common therapy approach to treat depression. It is based on the idea that how we think (cognition), how we feel (emotion) and how we act (behavior) all interact together. Specifically, our thoughts determine our feelings and our behavior.
Attachment disorders are caused by the absence of an emotionally secure attachment to a caregiver in the early years of life. Potential signs include a child being distant, not accepting help from parents, manipulation, or seems more affectionate with strangers than with family members.
- Options for treatment: Theraplay is one approach for attachment disorders. It is an evidence-based dyadic child and family therapy that has been recognized by the Association of Play Therapy as one of the seminal and historically significant play therapy approaches for children. Developed over 50 years ago, and practiced around the world, Theraplay was developed to support healthy child/caregiver attachment. Strong attachment between the child and the important adults in their life has long been believed to be the basis of lifelong good mental health as well as the mainstay of resilience in the face of adversity.
Sensory processing disorder can cause challenges with processing information from the five senses, the sense of movement, or the positional sense. These are considered to be neurological. Sometimes children’s behaviors may present aa hypersensitive to clothing against their skin, sounds in their environment, or normal lighting in a room that are not tolerated. Although these are not considered mental health related, some of the behaviors may present similar to a mental health concern.
- Options for treatment: Occupational therapy is often the first line of defense for children diagnosed with SPD. OTs work to develop a sensory diet for the child, which consists of various activities and exercises aimed at desensitizing or sensitizing them to specific stimuli. These activities can range from deep pressure touch or movements that stimulate the vestibular system to fine motor skill practices. The aim is to help the child self-regulate and function more comfortably in their daily life. A key area of focus in OT for SPD children is Sensory Integration Therapy (SIT). This therapy uses specialized equipment and targeted activities to help the child respond more appropriately to all types of sensory experience.
Other diagnoses includes generalized anxiety or social anxiety disorder, panic disorder, or obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Options for treatment: Cognitive behavioral therapy is a common approach as well as possibly trying medication management.
Reach out to Nightlight's Post Adoption Connection Center for referrals to mental health professionals and guidance for helping your child and family.
Resources:
https://www.shared-care.ca/toolkits
https://creatingafamily.org/adoption-category/mental-health-adoptees/