🌱 Signs Your Child Might Be Struggling

Every young person goes through ups and downs, but here are some things to pay attention to:

• They’ve stopped doing things they used to enjoy

• They’re more irritable or shut down than usual

• Sleep or eating habits have changed

• School seems more stressful than usual

• They're spending more time alone — or glued to their phone in ways that don’t feel healthy

You don’t need to be 100% sure something’s wrong to seek support. Often, just opening the conversation helps more than you realize.

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💬 Starting the Conversation

Worried about saying the wrong thing? Here are a few openers:

• “I’ve noticed you seem a little down lately. Want to talk about it?”

• “It seems like something’s been on your mind. I’m here when you’re ready.”

• “I love you no matter what — and I want to make sure you’re okay.”

Listening without jumping in to fix can be powerful. Sometimes they just need to know you're really hearing them.

 

🧠 When It Might Be Time to Reach Out for Help

Here are a few signs that it could be helpful to connect with a therapist:

• Their struggles are lasting more than a couple of weeks

• They’re avoiding school, friends, or activities they used to love

• You’re seeing big shifts in mood, motivation, or energy

• They’re talking about self-harm or you’re worried about safety

Therapy doesn’t have to mean something is “wrong.” It’s about helping them build skills, express themselves, and feel more in control.

 

🏠 What You Can Do at Home

Your relationship is one of their most powerful support systems. A few things that really help:

• Be present, not perfect. Even small moments of connection matter.

• Ask, don’t assume. Teens especially want to feel heard, not managed.

• Model emotional honesty. Sharing your own coping tools teaches them to build theirs.

• Stick to structure. Routines help kids feel safe, even when everything else feels uncertain.

 

🎒 Handling School, Friends & Social Media

• Keep an open line with teachers and school counselors — they often see things you can’t.

• Help them navigate social drama without pushing them into friendships that don’t feel safe.

• Create healthy tech boundaries together (e.g., screen-free meals or bedtime wind-downs).

You don’t need to eliminate social media, but you can help them build awareness of how it affects their mood and confidence.

 

📚 Helpful Resources

• Books

  • The Whole-Brain Child by Daniel Siegel & Tina Payne Bryson

  • Untangled by Lisa Damour (for parents of teen girls)

• Websites

  • Child Mind Institute

  • NAMI

  • American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry

• Hotlines

  • 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline – Call or text 988

  • Teen Line – Teens can text “TEEN” to 839863

 

💛 We’re Here to Help

At On Common Ground Counseling, we specialize in supporting teens and their families. Whether your child needs individual therapy, a teen group to build confidence, or you’re looking for parenting support — we’re here to partner with you.

Let’s figure this out together.