Signs Your Child Needs a Mental Health Therapist in Aledo, TX
A child mental health therapist in Aledo, TX helps children work through anxiety, depression, school issues, and big life changes using age appropriate methods like play therapy. Parents should reach out when changes in mood or behavior last more than a few weeks. The Peaceful Practice in Aledo offers child counseling led by a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist. |
Every child has hard days. But when sadness, worry, or school struggles start to shape your child's everyday life, it may be time to talk with a professional. This guide explains what a child mental health therapist does, the signs of anxiety and depression in children, and how child counseling in Aledo, TX works at The Peaceful Practice for families in Aledo, Willow Park, Hudson Oaks, Weatherford, and west Fort Worth.
7 Signs Your Child Needs a Mental Health Therapist
Your child may need a mental health therapist if one or more of these signs lasts longer than a few weeks:
Mood changes that do not lift. Sadness, irritability, or anger most days.
Constant worry or fear. Clinginess, "what if" questions, or avoiding normal activities.
Frequent meltdowns. Outbursts that are intense, long, or hard to calm.
Pulling away. Withdrawing from friends, family, or favorite activities.
School struggles. Falling grades, school refusal, or calls from the teacher.
Sleep or appetite changes. Trouble sleeping, nightmares, or eating much more or less.
Physical complaints. Stomachaches or headaches with no medical cause.
What Does a Child Mental Health Therapist in Aledo, TX Do?
A child mental health therapist helps children understand their feelings, build coping skills, and handle stress in healthy ways. For young children, much of this work happens through play therapy, because play is how children naturally express what they cannot yet say in words.
A child therapist can help with:
Anxiety, worry, and fears
Sadness, irritability, or signs of depression
School stress, grade drops, or trouble at school
Emotional outbursts and behavior changes
Grief, divorce, moves, and other family changes, often alongside family therapy
Low confidence and friendship struggles
What Are the Signs of Depression in Children?
Depression in children often looks different than it does in adults. Many children seem more irritable or tired than sad. According to the CDC, about 4% of children ages 3 to 17 have a current depression diagnosis.
Signs of depression in children include:
Sadness or irritability that lasts most days for two weeks or more
Losing interest in play, friends, or favorite activities
Changes in sleep or appetite
Low energy or frequent complaints of feeling tired
Harsh self talk, such as "I'm bad at everything"
Trouble concentrating at school
Stomachaches or headaches with no medical cause
If your child talks about hurting themselves or not wanting to be alive, seek help right away. Call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911 in an emergency.
How Do I Know If My Child Has Anxiety?
A child may have anxiety when worry is frequent, hard to calm, and starts to limit what they do. About 11% of children ages 3 to 17 have a current anxiety diagnosis, according to the CDC.
Common signs include clinginess, avoiding school or activities, constant "what if" questions, trouble sleeping, meltdowns before transitions, and physical complaints. Our guide on how to recognize anxiety in children covers the quieter signs parents often miss, and How Play Therapy Helps Children with Anxiety explains how treatment works.
Can Therapy Help Children With School Issues?
Yes. Therapy helps children with school issues by addressing the stress, anxiety, attention, or emotional struggles underneath the problem. A sudden drop in grades, school refusal, or frequent calls from the teacher are often signs that a child is overwhelmed, not unmotivated.
In counseling, children learn to manage worry, handle frustration, and ask for help. Parents learn how to support routines at home and partner with teachers. Learn more in Coping with School Stress: How Therapy Helps Kids Thrive.
What Credentials Should a Child Therapist in Texas Have?
A qualified child therapist in Texas should hold a state counseling license and specialized training in working with children. Look for:
LPC (Licensed Professional Counselor): A mental health professional with a master's degree who is licensed by the State of Texas.
RPT (Registered Play Therapist): An advanced credential from the Association for Play Therapy that requires specialized training and supervised experience.
Direct experience with children: Years of work in schools, child advocacy centers, or family settings.
Lisa Garrett-Farhat, M.Ed., LPC, RPT has worked with children, teens, and families since 1999. Her background includes school counseling in Irving ISD, play therapy at the Irving Family Advocacy Center, and casework with the Gladney Center for Adoption. She opened her private practice in 2007 and has served Aledo families since 2011.
What Questions Should Parents Ask Before Child Counseling Starts?
Parents should ask about the therapist's experience with children, their methods, and how parents will be involved. Helpful questions include:
How many years have you worked with children my child's age?
What methods do you use, and why do they fit my child?
How will I be involved, and how often will we check in?
How do you measure progress?
What does confidentiality look like for my child?
Do you offer in person sessions, teletherapy, or both?
How Does Child Counseling Work at The Peaceful Practice?
Child counseling at The Peaceful Practice starts with a parent consultation and continues as a partnership with your family. The practice is built on five core values: Safety, Trust, Acceptance, Respect, and Teamwork.
Reach out. Call (817) 229 7900, contact the office, or request an appointment online.
Parent consultation. Share your concerns and decide together whether the practice is the right fit.
Customized plan. Your child's plan may include play therapy, art, mindfulness, and animal assisted therapy with therapy dogs Loretta and Goose.
Parent partnership. Regular check ins and parent coaching help you support progress at home.
Older children and tweens can continue with teen counseling, and families anywhere in Texas can choose teletherapy.
Frequently Asked Questions About Child Mental Health Therapy in Aledo, TX
Talk With a Child Mental Health Therapist in Aledo, TX
Your child does not have to carry big feelings alone, and neither do you. If meltdowns are the main concern, read Child Meltdowns and Big Emotions: When Play Therapy Helps.
Call (817) 229 7900 or request an appointment to schedule your parent consultation today.
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