“Why would you bring your TODDLER to see a psychologist?” Sometimes people are confused when I share that I’m a psychologist specializing in young kids and families. They ask me, “Why would a child so young need a psychologist?” A misconception is that psychologist only treat mental illness and so something must be drastically wrong if you’re bringing your very young child to see a psychologist. But that’s NOT TRUE at all! ✨While toddlers can have emotional difficulties at a young age (such as anxiety disorders), a large portion of children I see are for behavior concerns and other every day issues (like waking up in the middle of the night or difficulties with toilet training). ✨Sometimes, a child just has a very different temperament than their parents (or siblings/other peers) like being more sensitive or being more active and parents find it helpful to get some tailored parenting advice to better support their child. ✨Other times, parents are concerned about their child’s development (e.g., developmental delays, autism, ADHD) and I get to support families to better understanding their child’s strengths and weaknesses. The post only highlights a handful of things psychologists can work on, but there’s a lot more other concerns too! If it has to do with development, emotions, or behaviors, psychologists likely can be helpful! Did you know child psychologists can address all these concerns? Share below! 💕