Non-Medication Alternatives for Your Child

There are many ways to treat your child's mood disorders that don't involve medication. Here's a list of different kinds and their appropriateness for different personalities:

• Individual or Group Cognitive/Behavioral Approaches. These approaches are good for less severe cases. Improvement is usually seen after 3 months.
• Psychodynamic therapy. This is good for children with low self-esteem. It provides a safe place to explore feelings.
• Cognitive Therapy. This approach is good for verbal teens. It helps challenge negative thoughts, actions and feelings.
• Behavioral Therapy. This is good for school-age children with cooperative parents. In this approach, negative experiences are played down. The child is helped to pay attention positive experiences.
• Family Therapy. This approach is good for stressed families. It helps to identify and shift family patterns and other things that get in the way of change.
• Group Therapy. This is good for developing social skills and support. Children learn and practice how to get along with others.
• Parental Guidance. This approach is good for confused and overwhelmed parents. It deals with behaviors due to depression in a child or parent.
• Environmental Intervention. This is good for school-age children with low self-esteem. It provides role models and positive experiences. It also supports the child to achieve in school.