Support and Guidance for Parents
Helpful mental health resources for parents and families in Ogden, Logan, and Pleasant Grove. Learn how to recognize changes in your child’s or teen’s mood, behavior, and well-being—and know when it may be time to seek support.
Parent Mental Health Resources for Children & Teens
Parents know their children better than anyone, but it is not always easy to know when changes in mood, behavior or school performance are part of growing up and when they may indicate that a child or teenager needs additional help.
Quality Youth Services provides mental health services and resources for parents and families throughout Ogden, Logan and Pleasant Grove.
If you are worried about your child or teenager, you do not need to know the diagnosis before asking for help.
The first step may simply be recognizing that something has changed.
How Do I Know if My Child Needs Therapy?
There is no single sign that means every child needs counseling.
Consider whether changes are:
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Persistent
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Getting worse
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Affecting school
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Affecting friendships
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Creating significant family conflict
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Interfering with everyday activities
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Causing significant distress
A major change from your child’s normal behavior may also be important.
Signs Your Child May Need Counseling
Parents may notice:
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Frequent anxiety or fear
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Persistent sadness
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Irritability
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Emotional outbursts
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Aggressive behavior
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Withdrawal from family
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Loss of interest in activities
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Sleep changes
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School problems
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Difficulty concentrating
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Frequent physical complaints
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Trouble making or keeping friends
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Major behavior changes
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Difficulty adjusting to family changes
One symptom by itself does not necessarily mean a mental health disorder is present.
Patterns and severity matter.
How Do I Know if My Teenager Needs Therapy?
Teenagers naturally seek more independence and may experience changing moods.
However, some changes deserve closer attention.
Possible signs include:
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Significant withdrawal
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Persistent sadness
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Frequent anger
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Anxiety
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Falling grades
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School refusal
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Major sleep changes
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Loss of interest in activities
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Sudden changes in friends
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Increased family conflict
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Risk-taking behavior
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Self-harm
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Statements about hopelessness
If these changes persist or significantly affect daily life, consider speaking with a mental health professional.
Child Therapy
Child Therapy can help children understand emotions and develop healthier ways of responding to difficult situations.
Children may receive therapy for concerns involving:
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Anxiety
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Trauma
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Behavioral problems
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Family changes
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Grief
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School difficulties
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Emotional regulation
The way therapy is provided should reflect the child’s age and developmental needs.
Teen Therapy
Teen Therapy gives adolescents a place to discuss emotional, behavioral, family and social concerns.
Common reasons parents seek Teen Therapy include:
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Anxiety
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Depression
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ADHD
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Trauma
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Anger
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Behavioral problems
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Self-harm
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School refusal
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Family conflict
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Relationship concerns
Should Parents Participate in Their Child’s Therapy?
Often, but the amount of involvement varies.
Parent participation may depend on:
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Child’s age
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Treatment goals
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Clinical needs
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Safety
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Family circumstances
For younger children, parents may have a larger role.
Teenagers may need more privacy to develop trust with their therapist.
Will My Teenager Tell Me Everything Discussed in Therapy?
Not necessarily.
A teenager may need a confidential environment to speak openly.
However, confidentiality has limits, particularly when there are significant safety concerns or mandatory reporting requirements.
Parents should ask the therapist how confidentiality will work before treatment begins.
What if My Teenager Refuses Therapy?
Avoid turning therapy into a punishment.
Statements such as “You’re going to therapy because something is wrong with you” can make resistance worse.
Instead, explain that therapy is a resource.
You might emphasize that:
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Everyone needs help sometimes
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Therapy provides a private place to talk
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The therapist is not there to punish them
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They can participate in setting goals
Some teenagers become more comfortable after meeting the therapist.
Should I Force My Teen to Talk?
Trying to force a teenager to disclose everything can sometimes make communication more difficult.
Instead:
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Be available
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Listen
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Avoid immediately criticizing
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Ask open-ended questions
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Take concerns seriously
Parents can provide support without demanding every detail.
Child and Teen Anxiety
Anxiety is more than occasional nervousness.
A child or teenager with significant anxiety may:
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Worry excessively
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Avoid activities
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Fear school
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Have trouble sleeping
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Frequently seek reassurance
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Experience physical symptoms
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Become irritable
Anxiety can interfere with school, friendships and family life.
How Can Parents Help a Child With Anxiety?
Parents can help by:
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Listening calmly
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Taking fears seriously
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Encouraging healthy routines
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Avoiding ridicule
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Helping children gradually face manageable challenges
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Seeking professional help when anxiety significantly interferes with life
Constantly helping a child avoid every feared situation may sometimes strengthen avoidance.
Depression in Children and Teenagers
Depression does not always look like sadness.
In children and teenagers, depression may appear as:
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Irritability
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Withdrawal
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Loss of motivation
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Changes in sleep
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Falling grades
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Loss of interest
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Fatigue
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Hopelessness
Persistent changes deserve attention.
How Can Parents Help a Depressed Teenager?
Take the concern seriously.
Parents can:
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Listen without immediately lecturing
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Encourage connection
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Support regular sleep and routines
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Watch for worsening symptoms
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Seek professional help
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Pay attention to statements about hopelessness or death
Trauma & PTSD Resources
Trauma can affect:
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Trust
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Mood
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Relationships
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Sleep
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Anxiety
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Emotional regulation
Visit Trauma & PTSD for information about symptoms and mental health treatment.
Behavioral Problems Resources
Parents often search for mental health information because a child’s behavior has changed.
Possible concerns include:
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Aggression
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Defiance
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Emotional outbursts
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Rule violations
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School problems
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Impulsivity
Behavior may be influenced by many factors, so treatment should focus on understanding the cause rather than simply labeling the behavior.
Self-Harm
Discovering that a child or teenager is engaging in Self-Harm can be frightening.
Try to respond calmly rather than with anger or punishment.
Self-harm can be a sign that a young person is struggling to manage significant emotional distress.
Professional assessment is appropriate.
What if My Child Is Suicidal?
Take statements about suicide seriously.
If your child or teenager is in immediate danger, has attempted suicide, or may act on suicidal thoughts:
Call 911, go to the nearest emergency department, or call or text 988.
Do not rely on an ordinary outpatient therapy appointment during an immediate crisis.
ADHD
Children and teenagers with ADHD may struggle with:
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Attention
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Impulsivity
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Organization
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Schoolwork
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Following instructions
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Emotional regulation
ADHD can sometimes look like a behavior problem when the underlying issue involves attention or impulse control.
Behavioral Problems
Parents may seek therapy because of Behavioral Problems such as:
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Defiance
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Aggression
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Rule violations
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Emotional outbursts
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Lying
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School problems
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Impulsive behavior
Behavior is communication.
The goal is to understand what may be contributing to the behavior rather than simply labeling a child as “bad.”
Anger Problems
Children and teenagers can become angry for many reasons.
Anger Management may be appropriate when anger frequently leads to:
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Aggression
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Threats
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Property damage
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Family conflict
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School discipline
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Loss of control
Therapy may help youth recognize triggers and learn healthier responses.
Trauma & PTSD
Children and teenagers who have experienced Trauma may react in ways that parents do not immediately connect with the traumatic event.
Possible reactions include:
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Anxiety
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Anger
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Withdrawal
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Sleep problems
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Avoidance
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Difficulty trusting
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Behavioral changes
Not every child exposed to trauma develops PTSD.
Grief & Loss
Children and teens may experience Grief & Loss after:
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Death
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Divorce
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Separation
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Moving
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Loss of friendships
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Major family changes
Young people may express grief differently than adults.
Mental Health Resources for Parents in Ogden
Quality Youth Services serves the greater Ogden area through our Harrisville office, located just minutes from Ogden.
Parents in Ogden and surrounding Weber County communities can contact QYS regarding Child Therapy, Teen Therapy, Family Therapy, assessments and other mental health services.
Mental Health Resources for Parents in Logan
Our Logan location serves children, teenagers and families throughout Logan and surrounding Cache Valley communities.
Parents can contact QYS regarding therapy, assessments and current provider availability.
Mental Health Resources for Parents in Pleasant Grove
Our Pleasant Grove location serves children, teenagers and families throughout Pleasant Grove and surrounding Utah County communities.
Contact QYS regarding current therapy and assessment options.
Take the Next Step
Parenting a child or teenager through emotional or behavioral difficulties can raise many questions.
You do not need to diagnose the problem before asking for professional guidance.
If you are concerned about your child or teenager and live in Ogden, Logan or Pleasant Grove, contact Quality Youth Services to discuss your concerns and determine an appropriate next step.