Your Child’s Behavioral Health
As your child grows, different behaviors will emerge. Some behaviors are normal milestones. Other behaviors can be destructive and should be addressed by a behavioral health specialist.
Normal Behaviors in Children
Common behaviors you will notice as your child grows are:
- Defiance, which is your child exerting independence
- Withdrawing, which is your child showing autonomy
- Acting out, which is your child reacting to major changes in life, such as moving to a new school, divorce, or death of someone close
When To Seek Out Behavioral Health Treatment
You should consider a behavioral evaluation if you notice that your child is:
- Threatening or harming others, pets, or themselves
- Damaging things belonging to others
- Having difficulty forming or keeping relationships with others
- Showing frequent signs of unhappiness or depression
- Demonstrating anxiety about going to school
- Exhibiting defiance and hostility toward authority figures
- Frequently lying, arguing, stealing, or skipping school
- Using drugs, drinking, or smoking at an early age
What To Expect During a Behavioral Health Evaluation
During a behavioral health assessment, the behavioral health specialist will:
- Perform a medical examination to check for an underlying medical condition contributing to the behaviors
- Order laboratory work and other testing to aid in the diagnosis of an underlying condition
- Observe your child’s behaviors and record any signs you and other members of your household have observed
Your behavioral health specialist may also recommend behavioral testing. There are several types of behavioral testing to assess depression, anxiety, cognitive, emotional, and behavioral issues.
Treatment of Behavioral Issues
The goal of treatment for behavioral issues is to limit or eliminate bad behaviors and encourage good behaviors. The behavioral health specialist may recommend:
- Individual, group, and family counseling
- Lifestyle modifications including diet and exercise
- Medication if necessary to modify behavior
- Additional specialty care with a child psychologist
Want To Know More About Behavioral Health?
To learn more about convenient and private telehealth behavioral health services, talk with the medical professionals at GT Healthcare, offering behavioral health services via Telehealth throughout the state of California. You can reach our office by calling or texting (619) 547-1856, so call today.