Explore More About Mental Health from Our Blogs!
Explore More About Mental Health from Our Blogs!

How to Help an Anxious Child Who Worries About Everything: A Parent’s Guide
Many parents find themselves lying awake at night wondering how to help a child who constantly worries about school, friendships, family members, making mistakes, getting

Parenting an Anxious Teen: How to Help Without Making Anxiety Worse
Parenting an anxious teen can be challenging under the best of circumstances. As children move into adolescence, they naturally begin seeking more independence, spending more

School Anxiety in Children and Teens: When School Becomes a Source of Stress
Most children experience occasional nervousness about school. They may feel anxious before the first day of school, a big test, a presentation, or an important



Signs Your Child May Need Counseling: What Every Parent Should Know
As parents, we all expect our children to experience challenges from time to time. Bad days, friendship struggles, academic stress, family conflict, and emotional ups

Why Perfectionism and Anxiety Often Go Together in Children
Many parents are surprised when they discover that their high-achieving, responsible, well-behaved child is struggling with anxiety. From the outside, these children often appear successful.

Does My Child Need Play Therapy? Signs Parents Should Know
Many parents wonder whether their child’s struggles are simply part of growing up or whether additional support may be helpful. Children experience a wide range

How Play Therapy Helps Children Express Big Feelings
Every child experiences big feelings. Children feel anxious before a test, angry when something feels unfair, sad when they lose a friend, frustrated when they

Online Play Therapy for Children Ages 7 and Up: What Parents Need to Know
When most parents hear the words “play therapy,” they often imagine a therapist and child sitting together in the same room surrounded by toys, games,

What Is Play Therapy and How Does It Help Children?
When adults are struggling, they often talk about their thoughts, feelings, and experiences. They can usually describe what is bothering them and ask for help.

Why Play Is Essential for Children’s Mental Health
When most people think about play, they think about fun. They picture children running outside, building with blocks, pretending to be superheroes, drawing pictures, or

Co-Parenting Tips That Help Children Feel Safe and Secure
Few parenting challenges require as much patience, flexibility, and clear communication as co-parenting after divorce or separation. Most parents want the same thing: children who

Helping Children Cope With Divorce: What Parents Need to Know
Few experiences are more difficult for parents than watching their child struggle during a divorce. Even when parents are confident that ending the relationship is

How Divorce Affects Children at Different Ages
One of the most common questions parents ask during a divorce is: “How will this affect my child?” There is no single answer that fits

Signs Your Child Is Struggling After a Divorce
Divorce is one of the most significant transitions a family can go through. Even when parents work hard to reduce conflict and keep life stable,

When Family Changes Feel Overwhelming for Children
Change is a natural part of life. Families move. Parents change jobs. Children switch schools. Friendships evolve. Siblings are born. Family structures shift over time.


Helping Your Child Develop Confidence After Failure
Few things are harder for parents than watching their child fail. Whether it is a poor grade, a missed opportunity, a lost game, a friendship

How Social Media Affects Self-Esteem in Teens
For today’s teenagers, social media is woven into everyday life. It is how many teens communicate with friends, share experiences, stay informed, and express themselves.

How to Build Self-Esteem in Children and Teens
Many parents want their children to feel confident, capable, and secure in who they are. They want their children to try new things, recover from

The Hidden Signs of Low Self-Esteem in Kids
When most people think about low self-esteem in children, they picture a child who lacks confidence, avoids attention, and openly doubts themselves. While that certainly

Why Some Children Are So Hard on Themselves
Every child gets angry. Children become angry when they feel frustrated, misunderstood, embarrassed, disappointed, treated unfairly, or unable to get what they want. Anger is

Helping Children Manage Anger in Healthy Ways
Every child gets angry. Children become angry when they feel frustrated, misunderstood, embarrassed, disappointed, treated unfairly, or unable to get what they want. Anger is

How to Help an Easily Frustrated Child
Every child gets frustrated from time to time. A homework assignment feels too difficult. A sibling will not share. A video game level seems impossible

How to Teach Coping Skills to Children and Teens
Life can be stressful for children and teenagers. While adults often think of childhood as carefree, children face many challenges that can feel overwhelming. Academic

What Emotional Regulation Really Means for Children
Many parents have heard the term emotional regulation, but they are not always sure what it means. They may hear a teacher mention it during


Why Some Children Melt Down Over Small Things
Many parents have experienced a moment when their child’s reaction seems much bigger than the situation itself. Perhaps your child bursts into tears because their


Helping Kids and Teens Cope with Divorce Through Virtual Play Therapy
When parents separate or divorce, the emotional impact on children and teens can be significant. Even in the most amicable situations, the disruption to family


How to Strengthen the Parent-Child Relationship During the Teenage Years
The teenage years can feel like a whirlwind. One minute your child is asking for your help, and the next they’re shutting the door to


Is It Normal Teenage Behavior or Something More? Signs of Depression and Anxiety in Adolescents
Teenagers go through a lot of changes in a short amount of time. Mood swings, emotional outbursts, and a need for independence are all common


How Unresolved Trauma Can Impact Teen Behavior and Emotions
Teenagers often go through phases that can be confusing or challenging for parents to understand. Mood swings, irritability, withdrawal, or risky behavior are sometimes dismissed


Parent-Child Relationship Strengtheners During the Teenage Years
The teenage years can be both deeply rewarding and incredibly challenging for families. As teens seek more independence and begin forming their own identities, the


Parenting Through Emotional Outbursts: Understanding Teen Anger and What Lies Beneath It
Anger is one of the most misunderstood emotions, especially in teenagers. It’s loud, messy, and at times, deeply concerning for parents. But anger is also


Strengthening the Parent-Teen Relationship: Building Trust and Communication in the Teenage Years
The teenage years can bring a wave of change, not only for the teen, but also for the entire family. As children become teens, their


Strengthening the Parent-Teen Relationship: Staying Connected During the Teenage Years
The teenage years bring enormous growth and change, not just for your child but for your entire family. As teens begin to explore their independence,


Supporting Your Teen Through Academic Pressure and Performance Anxiety
It’s no secret that today’s teens are experiencing more academic pressure than ever before. Between rigorous coursework, high-stakes testing, advanced placement classes, extracurricular commitments, and


Supporting Your Teen After a Traumatic Event: A Parent’s Guide to Healing
Teenagers are resilient, but when they experience something traumatic, the emotional impact can be significant. Whether the trauma comes from a car accident, the death


The Impact of Trauma on Teenage Brain Development: What Parents Need to Know
When teens experience trauma, whether it’s from abuse, neglect, bullying, loss, or other distressing experiences it doesn’t just affect their emotions. It can actually alter


The Role of Routine in Managing Anxiety and Depression in Adolescents
For many adolescents, life feels like a whirlwind of school pressure, social dynamics, changing bodies, and growing independence. When mental health struggles like anxiety or


Understanding Developmental Milestones in Early Childhood (Ages 3–6)
As parents, it’s natural to wonder if your child is “on track.” You might find yourself comparing them to other children at daycare, noticing differences


Understanding Emotional Dysregulation in Children: What Parents Need to Know
Some children feel emotions more intensely than others. They might go from calm to furious in a matter of seconds, or feel completely overwhelmed by

Understanding Teenage Anger: What Parents Need to Know
Parenting a teenager can feel like walking through an emotional minefield. One minute, your teen is joking around and engaging with the family. The next,


Understanding the Emotional World of Preteens and Teens: How Play-Based Therapy Supports Mental Health
The teenage years are full of rapid change. Emotions feel bigger, friendships become more complicated, and a growing need for independence often clashes with the


Understanding the Link Between Anger and Anxiety in Children and Teens
It’s not uncommon for children and teens to express emotions in unexpected ways. Sometimes, what looks like anger on the surface is actually a sign

When Childhood Trauma Shows Up Later: Understanding Delayed Emotional Responses in Teens
Trauma doesn’t always show its impact right away. In fact, many children who experience traumatic events or stressful life changes may appear to be “doing


When School Becomes Overwhelming: Academic Pressure and Mental Health in Teenagers
Today’s teens are facing a level of academic stress that many adults never experienced at their age. With honors classes, extracurriculars, college prep, and constant


When Trauma Isn’t Obvious: Recognizing Hidden Signs in Children and Teens
Not all trauma looks the same. When parents hear the word trauma, they often picture something big and obvious, like a car accident, a natural


Why Teens in St. Louis Are Turning to Virtual Therapy for Anxiety Support
In recent years, more and more teenagers across Missouri, and especially in the St. Louis area—are experiencing the overwhelming effects of anxiety. Whether it’s due


What to Expect During Your Child’s First Virtual Play Therapy Session
Starting therapy can be a big step for both children and parents, especially when it’s happening virtually. At Amy Brown Counseling, we understand that preparing


How Divorce Affects Children at Different Ages: What Parents Should Know
Divorce is never easy, and when children are involved, parents often face the added challenge of navigating how the separation will impact their child’s emotional


When Sadness Becomes Something More: Early Signs of Depression in Children and Teens
It’s normal for kids and teens to feel sad from time to time. But when that sadness begins to linger, grow deeper, or interfere with


How To Inform Children About Divorce or Breaking Up
When parents decide to separate or divorce, one of the most difficult moments is figuring out how to tell the children. The way this conversation