Recently, I witnessed a quiet breakthrough in our program – a child who hadn’t spoken in group for weeks finally found his voice during art therapy. These moments, often invisible to the outside world, are why NAMI’s 2025 Mental Health Awareness Month theme, “In Every Story, There’s Strength,” resonates so deeply with our work.
If you’re reading this, you probably care about a child who’s facing mental health challenges. Maybe you’re a parent wondering if things will ever get easier. Maybe you’re an educator or healthcare provider looking for hope to share with families. Wherever you’re coming from, I want you to know something important: in every child’s story – even during the hardest chapters – there is remarkable strength waiting to be discovered.
The Kid Behind the Symptoms
Let me tell you about Marco (not his real name – all children’s names in this blog have been changed to protect confidentiality).
When this energetic seven-year-old first joined our program, he couldn’t sit still for more than two minutes. His parents arrived with thick folders of previous evaluations. “We’ve tried everything,” his mom whispered, tearing up. “No one sees our actual child anymore – just his symptoms.”
Sound familiar?
It’s something we hear constantly. Children’s mental health challenges often manifest as behaviors that overshadow who they really are. The child becomes “the angry one” or “the anxious one.” Family dinners revolve around behavioral management rather than connection. The diagnosis becomes bigger than the child.
This is exactly why our PHP and IOP create environments where kids can be seen beyond their symptoms. Our spaces aren’t traditional clinical settings – they’re designed with developing minds in mind, with:
- Sensory corners for regulation
- Art supplies for expression
- Physical activities for embodied processing
- Carefully facilitated group activities for social learning
When Marco discovered our kinetic sand, everything shifted. His constantly moving hands became purposeful. His body grew calm. Most importantly, he started telling stories through the figures – revealing inner experiences he couldn’t yet put into words.
“Look,” he said one day, pointing to a small figure partially buried in the sand. “This is the real me. Nobody can find him when I’m having big feelings.”
Isn’t that powerful? This seven-year-old’s insight guided our entire approach, helping his family recognize and connect with “the real Marco” even during challenging moments.
When Medical Meets Behavioral: A Real Family's Journey
Want to hear something amazing? Last year, a family with two boys enrolled in our intensive programs, both struggling with behavioral challenges that were straining everyone. Their story perfectly illustrates how interconnected medical and behavioral factors can be – and how the right support changes everything.
During assessment, we discovered both boys had underlying medical conditions contributing to their behavioral challenges. But these medical factors had become so enmeshed with family dynamics that everyone felt trapped in reaction patterns.
During a family meeting, the boys’ parents had an insight that changed everything: “Their medical challenges aren’t excuses for behavior – but they’re not separate from behavior either.”
This realization became their turning point. Through our family-centered approach, we:
- Developed a framework that acknowledged medical challenges while promoting appropriate accountability
- Created visual tools to identify early warning signs of dysregulation
- Established new family communication patterns
- Implemented consistent structures that provided security
Several months after completing our program, the mom reached out: “Our family life now is the best it’s ever been. The tools we learned have become second nature. But the biggest change was understanding how to separate medical challenges from behavioral choices without dismissing either. It gave our boys back their agency and gave us back our connection.”
Isn’t that what we all want for our families? Connection, understanding, and tools that work?
The Magic of "Me Too" Moments
Can I share a secret? The most powerful medicine we offer isn’t in our therapeutic techniques (though they’re important) or medications. It’s in the community we create – the profound relief children and parents feel when they realize they’re not alone.
Have you ever seen a child’s face when they discover someone else shares their experience? The visible relief is incredible. I’ve watched tight-shouldered kids instantly relax when another group member says, “That happens to me too.” I’ve seen parents exchange glances that contain volumes of shared understanding.
These “me too” moments are where stigma dissolves and healing begins.
Ten-year-old Sophia put it perfectly during her graduation celebration: “Finding out that other kids’ brains work like mine helped the most. I thought I was the only one who felt like this.”
Our tween groups especially benefit from this connection. Developmental changes combined with emerging mental health challenges can make tweens feel profoundly different. Our specialized tween programming acknowledges their unique position – no longer children but not yet teenagers – and creates communities where their experiences are normalized.
Ask yourself: Does your child have opportunities to connect with others who understand their struggles? If not, could finding that community be a game-changer?
Small Victories Worth Celebrating
Thirteen-year-old Sam couldn’t attend school when he joined our program. His debilitating anxiety kept him home, and his parents carried the heavy weight of worry, school pressure, and uncertainty.
During his first week with us, he rarely spoke and physically positioned himself on the edges of group activities.
Fast forward three weeks. I watched as Sam voluntarily demonstrated a breathing technique to a newer group member who was struggling. “This one really helps me when my thoughts get too loud,” he explained quietly. “You have to practice it when you’re calm first, though, so your body remembers it when you need it.”
Goosebumps, right? This previously withdrawn child was reaching out to help another. He had moved from isolation to connection. He had found his voice.
His mom later told me through tears, “We celebrate things now that other families might not even notice. When Sam called a friend last weekend – something he hasn’t done in eight months – we nearly threw a party.”
That’s the thing about mental health recovery for kids – the victories might seem small from the outside, but they’re actually huge. They build confidence, connection, and competence. They rewrite internal narratives from “I’m broken” to “I’m learning and growing.”
What small victories might you be overlooking in your child’s journey?
Finding Your Next Steps
Mental health challenges in childhood aren’t simple. They rarely resolve with quick fixes or one-size-fits-all approaches. But I’ve seen over and over how the right support at the right time can change everything:
- The boy who finally finds words for his feelings after months of explosive behavior
- The parents who learn to see past diagnoses to connect with their child’s essential self
- The siblings who develop compassion and communication skills beyond their years
- The tween who discovers she’s not alone and finds her voice in a supportive community
These are the stories that fill our PHP and IOP programs every day. Stories of struggle, yes – but more importantly, stories of resilience, connection, and hope.
So, what now? If you’re parenting a child through mental health challenges, here are three things to consider:
- LOOK FOR STRENGTH. Behind challenging behaviors, beneath diagnoses and labels, there are always strengths waiting to be discovered and celebrated.
- CREATE COMMUNITY. Find ways for your child to connect with others who share similar experiences – and find support for yourself too.
- CELEBRATE SMALL VICTORIES. Notice and celebrate the seemingly small steps that actually represent huge internal growth.
And remember – seeking support isn’t a sign of failure. It’s one of the greatest demonstrations of strength there is.
Have questions about our PHP or IOP programs? Wondering if they might be right for your child? Reach out anytime. We’re here to help your family write its next chapter – one where strength, resilience, and connection take center stage.
