Depression Treatment for Kids

Is your child struggling with more than just sadness?

It's natural for children to feel down at times - that's normal. But depression becomes a real concern when you start noticing changes in your child's behavior that last for several days or weeks and begin to negatively affect their daily life.

Depression in children often looks different than it does in adults. While some children show the typical signs of crying often, low energy, and sadness, many children express depression through irritability & short temper, moodiness, and frequent back-talking. It can be easy to mistake depressed behavior for defiance or attitude.

Signs of depression in children

• Persistent sadness or emptiness
• Feeling hopeless or helpless
• Loss of interest in activities they used to enjoy
• Irritability and anger
• Feelings of worthlessness or guilt
• Sleep difficulties
• Difficulty concentrating
• Low energy and fatigue
• Racing heart or physical complaints
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Declining grades or school refusal
• Thoughts of death or self-harm

How Lillian works with children

Young children don't have the language skills or emotional maturity to sit across from a therapist and describe how they're feeling. So Lillian meets them where they are: through play.

In-person sessions

Lillian's office is specially designed for young children, with a full selection of toys, games, and art materials on a real bookshelf. Your child chooses what they want to play with. As Lillian observes their mannerisms, expressions, and choices, she gains valuable insight into what they're experiencing and can guide them through processing difficult emotions without ever making them feel put on the spot.

Online sessions and the Virtual Playground

For children who work online, Lillian uses a virtual playground and kids absolutely love it. They share a screen together, your child selects virtual toys from a digital shelf, and Lillian observes and interacts with them through play. For example, a child might pick a stuffed animal that looks angry. Lillian asks them to play out a time when they felt angry through that toy — gaining insight into their emotional world in a way that feels completely natural to the child.

It's an innovative, clinically proven approach that produces genuinely remarkable results.