Kids Mental Health - Saúde mental infantil: como manter o equilíbrio

In recent years, conversations around mental health have become more open and compassionate, a shift many experts welcome. But alongside this greater acceptance is the concern that some parents may be pushing their children toward unnecessary therapy, even interpreting normal childhood behaviour through a pathological lens. At its extreme, this trend has been described as “over-therapizing.”

Over-therapizing (excesso de terapia) refers to the tendency to explain ordinary emotional experiences as clinical psychological problems, especially when done prematurely. While good intentions often drive parents toward this approach, the risks deserve thoughtful reflection.

Why Therapy demand rates and prices are increasing

There’s no question that increased awareness of mental health is a positive development. A growing body of research shows that social stigma is decreasing, and more families are recognizing when professional support is genuinely needed.

According to the American Psychological Association (APA), early mental health support can be critical in helping children navigate traumatic experiences, developmental challenges, and emotional regulation struggles. Early intervention is especially valuable for serious mood disorders, anxiety with impairment, and trauma responses.

So why then the growing concern about parents encouraging therapy even when it might not be needed?

When Awareness Becomes Over-Interpretation

Part of the issue stems from how widely psychological terminology has entered everyday language. Terms like trauma, anxiety, attachment issues, and boundaries are now common in parenting blogs, TikTok videos, and Instagram reels, often without context or nuance.

In a viral LinkedIn post, social worker and child pyschologist Nicole Runyon highlighted a key dilemma: “What if everything isn’t trauma?” She pointed out that experiences like disappointment, frustration, or conflict aren’t always signs of deep psychological harm, even though they are emotionally charged.

Runyon’s point resonates with many clinicians who agree that mental health awareness is critical, even though it can become counterproductive when every normal emotional reaction is medicalised.

Childhood and adolescence are inherently periods of emotional fluctuation. It’s developmentally expected that:

• toddlers throw tantrums
  
  

• teens feel misunderstood
  
  

• kids experience fear during transitions like starting school, relocating to a new place, etc
  
  

• And almost every child resists limits at some point.

Researchers emphasise that not all distress is clinical distress. According to the Child Mind Institute, typical struggles with friends, school stress, and mood fluctuations don’t automatically indicate a psychological disorder.

What matters is duration, function, and impact. If a child’s emotional state significantly interferes with daily functioning (be it home life, school performance, or friendships), then professional evaluation could be beneficial.

Why Some Parents Lean Toward Therapy Quickly

Several cultural and social factors contribute to parents erring on the side of intervention:

1. The Information Age: Parents today have unprecedented access to mental health content. While this democratizes knowledge, it also amplifies misunderstanding, especially when content creators prioritise engagement over accuracy.

2. Anxiety About Child Success: Many parents feel pressure to ensure their children are “happy,” “well-adjusted,” and set up for success. Therapy can feel like a protective step, even when a child is simply experiencing normal growing pains.

3. Lack of Clear Guidance: Not all schools and pediatricians provide clear guidance on emotional development. Without professional signposts, parents may default to therapy as a catch-all solution.

The Risks of Normalizing Therapy

Encouraging professional help when it’s genuinely needed can be life-changing. But is there a potential downside?:

• Labeling normal experiences: Calling typical emotional ups and downs “disorders” can give children a sense that something is innately “wrong” with them.
  
  

• Unnecessary treatment: Therapy requires time, emotional energy, and financial investment. Using it without clear need can lead to fatigue or dependence on professional interpretation.
  
  

• Shifting responsibility away from natural resilience: Learning to navigate small stressors without formal intervention is a normal part of growing up.

Clinical psychologists argue that therapy should complement not replace healthy emotional growth and support from family, school, and community but what if, trust of our own emotion started at home. Busy parents tend to hand off their problems to an external service, that eventually becomes an expensive burden over time.

Striking the Right Balance

So how can parents make balanced decisions?

1. Observe and record patterns over time. Who was involved before and during the weird behavior.

2. Consult friends of the child and other AUdhd adults in child's life. Start with ensuring proper balance of fresh air down time vs other stimulating activities (including screen time) before booking specialized therapy referrals.

3. Educate yourself on developmental norms. Read or Listen to Gabor Maté "Hold on to your kids" with Gordon Neufeld.

4. Encourage conversations about emotions at home. Healthy communication, discuss boundaries, and emotional modeling are powerful tools that don’t require clinical intervention.

Awareness Without Over-Interpretation

Mental health awareness is essential, and therapy can be transformative when used appropriately depending the age and circumstances. But as the conversation evolves, parents and caregivers must guard against applying clinical language too broadly. A thoughtful approach honors both the emotional experiences of children and the resilience they naturally develop. By balancing compassion with discernment, parents can support mental wellness without turning every challenge into a clinical narrative.