Upstate counselors report spike in child mental health cases starting school year

GREENVILLE COUNTY, S.C. (WSPA) – A counseling center in Greenville said it is dealing with an uptick in children and young adults seeking therapy. Staff said it’s related to issues they’re dealing with in school.

Clinicians with Thriveworks in Greenville told 7NEWS they’ve seen the demand for child therapy services increase by more than thirty percent in the last year.

They said that directly ties in with the stress and anxiety students are feeling this school year.

“The pressure to be something that they’re not I think has been the biggest thing that people in various ways are talking about. Not being comfortable with just who they are, trying to conform to whatever the latest trend is, what the latest influencer is telling them,” said Jeff Burgdorfer, a licensed professional counselor with Thriveworks.

Burgdorfer said up to 20 percent of his patients are children and young adults. He said more of them are asking about therapy services, and feeling the pressure to perform well with sports and classes.

He’s urging parents to carve out time throughout the day to check on their kids.

“It communicates to your kids that ‘we may not know how to talk about mental health, or what you’re feeling’, but what kids can find reassuring, what can be a good source and anchor for them, is to know where and when to do it,” Burgdorfer also said.

Burgdorfer encourages parents to seek help right away if they notice changes in their child’s behavior. That includes but is not limited to acting out, isolating and performing poorly in school.

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