Understanding Depression in Children and Teens

Depression in young people is more than a bad mood or a hard week. It’s a persistent condition that can affect mood, energy, sleep, appetite, schoolwork, and friendships. Because kids don’t always have the words to describe what they’re feeling, depression can be easy to miss or mistake for a phase, attitude, or “typical teenage behavior.”

In children and teens, depression often shows up as irritability or anger rather than sadness. Younger children may complain of stomachaches or headaches, become clingy, or lose interest in play. Teens may withdraw from family, spend more time alone in their rooms, or seem to have lost their spark.

Common experiences include:

• Persistent sadness, irritability, or a short temper

• Losing interest in friends, activities, or hobbies they used to enjoy

• Withdrawing from family or spending much more time alone

• Changes in sleep, such as sleeping much more or having trouble falling asleep

• Changes in appetite or weight

• Declining grades, difficulty concentrating, or not wanting to go to school

• Frequent physical complaints without a clear medical cause

• Saying things like “I’m stupid,” “nobody likes me,” or “what’s the point”

• Thoughts of self-harm or that life isn’t worth living

My Approach to Depression Treatment

Depression in children and adolescents is very treatable, and most young people improve meaningfully with the right support. I take a family-centered, comprehensive approach that may include:

Thorough Evaluation: We’ll explore your child’s symptoms, when they started, and how they’re affecting home, school, and friendships. I’ll also look at contributing factors like family stressors, bullying, academic pressure, social media, sleep, medical conditions, and co-occurring concerns such as anxiety, ADHD, or learning differences.

Therapy First, When Appropriate: For many children and teens, especially those with milder depression, evidence-based therapy such as cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or interpersonal therapy is an effective first step. I can help you connect with therapists who specialize in working with young people.

Medication Management: For moderate to severe depression, or when therapy alone isn’t enough, medication can be very helpful. I’ll walk you through the options, the evidence for their use in young people, and what to watch for. We’ll start carefully and follow closely, especially in the early weeks of treatment.

Parent Guidance: Parents play a central role in recovery. I’ll help you understand what your child is going through, how to talk with them about it, and how to support them without adding pressure.

Safety and Support: When a child or teen is struggling with depression, safety is always part of the conversation. I’ll work with your family on a plan for recognizing warning signs and knowing what to do if things get harder.

School Coordination: When depression is affecting school, I can help you think through accommodations, communicate with your child’s school, and provide supporting documentation when appropriate.

What to Expect

The intake for children and adolescents is completed in three parts:

Part 1: Parent Session (60 minutes)
We’ll meet without your child to talk through your concerns, your child’s developmental, medical, and school history, and your family’s goals.

Part 2: Child Session (60 minutes)
I’ll meet with your child or teen to get to know them directly: how they see things, what feels hard, and what’s going well.

Part 3: Feedback Session (30 minutes)
About one week later, we’ll meet again to go over my impressions and talk through treatment options together.

Between sessions, I’ll review any records you share, such as report cards, prior testing, or treatment records, and, with your permission, speak with outside providers involved in your child’s care.

From there, we’ll develop a treatment plan tailored to your child. Many young people begin to feel better within a few weeks of starting treatment, though it can take longer to see the full benefit. Regular follow-up appointments let us track progress and adjust as needed. With teens, I’ll also talk with your family about how privacy works in our sessions, so your teen feels safe opening up and you feel informed about what matters.

Who I Work With

I work with children, adolescents, and their families in New York City. Whether your child has seemed “off” for a while and you can’t quite name why, your teen is struggling through a hard transition, or you’re looking for a second opinion on current treatment, I’m here to help your family find a path forward.

Getting Started

If you’re worried your child or teen may be depressed, reaching out is an important first step. Depression can make it hard for kids to believe things will get better, but with the right support, they can and do.

If your child is in immediate danger or expressing thoughts of suicide, call or text 988 (Suicide & Crisis Lifeline), call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room.