As parents, we always want what’s best for our children. When it comes to their mental health, it can be difficult to know when to seek help or how to talk about it. Whether your child is showing signs of stress, anxiety, or behavioral changes, you may feel uncertain or overwhelmed. It's normal to have concerns, but taking the first step toward support can make a big difference in your child’s well-being.

As pediatric professionals, we are all driven by a love for children and a desire to make a positive impact. When a child is struggling, our instinct is to facilitate conversations that lead families to the support they need as soon as possible before the situation escalates. However, navigating these discussions, particularly around sensitive issues like mental health and therapy, can be challenging for pediatricians, educators, and other pediatric service providers. That's where motivational interviewing (MI) becomes invaluable. Even if therapy isn't part of your practice, your regular interactions with children and families place you in a unique position to initiate crucial conversations with parents and guide them toward appropriate support. Motivational interviewing can empower you to do this effectively.

As the holiday season approaches, many families look forward to gathering around the table, sharing meals, and celebrating togetherness. But for a growing number of children and teens, these moments are fraught with anxiety, secrecy, and emotional pain. Eating disorders, once thought to be rare in young people, are now a rising crisis, often beginning long before anyone notices a change in weight or appearance. 

Graduation and new chapters should feel exciting. You worked hard to reach this moment. But if you feel empty, anxious, or lost about what comes next, you're not alone. Many people call this post-graduation depression—not a clinical diagnosis, but a common name for the mix of emotions that come with life transitions. This feeling is common, and it happens to many young adults ages 18-24. Understanding why it happens and when to get help can make a big difference.

You've watched your child graduate high school or college. You expected them to start building their own life. Instead, they seem stuck or unmotivated. They're avoiding work, sleeping through the day, and seemingly unable to take steps forward.