Your child is still in there. We can help them find their way back.

Maybe your child won't leave their room and is always on their phone. Maybe your teen used to love soccer, or drawing, or hanging out with friends, and now nothing seems to interest them. Maybe every question gets a shrug, a snap, or a closed door. You might be wondering, "Is this just being a teenager, or is something wrong?"

Trusting that feeling is a good first step. Depression is common in kids and teens, it often looks different than it does in adults, and it's very treatable. At SageMind Psychology, our team helps kids and teens feel like themselves again, and helps parents know how to support them along the way.

What depression can look like in kids and teens

In kids and teens, depression doesn't always look like sadness. It often shows up as irritability, withdrawal, or low energy. Parents tell us things like:

• "My child won't leave their room and is always on their devices."

• "She's so irritable. Everything I say starts a fight."

• "He quit the team and doesn't want to see his friends anymore."

• "My daughter sleeps all afternoon, or she's up all night."

• "His grades are slipping and he says he doesn't care."

• "She keeps saying she's stupid, or that nobody likes her."

• "They're always tired, bored, or complaining of headaches and stomachaches."

• "She's eating a lot more, or a lot less, than she used to."

• "They used to light up around their friends. Now they don't seem to enjoy anything."

• "I feel like I don't know my kid anymore."

Depression often shows up alongside anxiety, ADHD, or big emotions, and it can make everyday things like school, chores, and friendships feel exhausting. Our team works with all of these, often at the same time.

Is it normal moodiness, or is it depression?

Every kid has bad days, and teens especially can be moody. It may be time to reach out when:

• The low mood, irritability, or withdrawal has lasted two weeks or more

• Your child has lost interest in things they used to enjoy

• School, friendships, sleep, or eating have noticeably changed

• They talk about feeling hopeless, worthless, or like a burden

• You're worried, even if you can't quite name why

You don't have to be sure it's depression before reaching out. A conversation with a professional can help you understand what's going on and what would help.

How we help kids and teens with depression

Small steps, real skills, and a family that knows how to help.

Our team uses evidence-based therapies with strong research support for childhood and teen depression. We meet kids where they are, build trust first, and make therapy feel like a place they actually want to be.

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Kids and teens learn to notice harsh or hopeless thoughts, challenge them, and slowly get back to the activities and people that help them feel better.

• Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): For teens whose depression comes with intense emotions, self-harm, or feeling out of control, DBT teaches skills for getting through painful moments and building a life that feels worth living.

• Parent coaching: It's hard to know what to say to a child who's shutting you out. We help parents stay connected, set limits around screens and routines without constant battles, and respond in ways that encourage their child to open up.

Support for every kind of depression.

Depression can look very different from one child to the next. Here are some of the most common ways it shows up, and how we help:

• Low mood and loss of interest: Sadness, emptiness, or a sense that nothing is fun anymore, often with pulling away from friends, hobbies, and family. We use CBT and behavioral activation to help kids take small, doable steps back toward the activities and people that lift their mood, even before they feel like it.

• Irritability and anger: A short fuse, constant arguing, or snapping at family over small things. For many kids and teens, this is what depression looks like from the outside. Therapy helps them recognize the feelings underneath, and parent coaching gives families calmer ways to respond and reduce conflict at home.

• Long-lasting low mood: A gloomy, low-energy mood that has hung around for a year or more, so long that it may seem like "just how they are." This is sometimes called persistent depressive disorder. CBT helps kids shift the thinking patterns that keep them stuck and build routines that support a steadier mood.

• Harsh self-talk and low self-worth: Frequent thoughts like "I'm stupid," "Nobody likes me," or "I ruin everything." CBT helps kids and teens catch these thoughts, challenge them against the evidence, and learn to treat themselves with more kindness.

• Depression after a big change or loss: A move, a divorce, a death in the family, a breakup, or a hard transition to a new school. Therapy gives kids a safe space to work through what happened and build coping skills, and parent coaching helps families support them through the change.

• Seasonal changes in mood: Low energy, oversleeping, and withdrawal that tend to return during the darker winter months. CBT strategies help kids plan ahead, keep up routines and activities, and stay connected through the hardest stretch.

• Depression that's affecting school: Slipping grades, missed assignments, trouble getting out of bed, or avoiding school altogether. Along with CBT and parent coaching, our School Refusal Program (DBT-SR) offers focused support for kids who are struggling to get to school.

• Self-harm or thoughts of not wanting to be alive: Hurting themselves to cope, feeling like a burden, or saying things like "Everyone would be better off without me." DBT is a well-researched treatment for teens facing these struggles, and it teaches skills for getting through painful moments safely. Parents are part of treatment, so the whole family knows how to respond. 

If you need immediate assistance related to suicidality or self-injury, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.

Many kids' struggles are multifaceted. Our clinicians look at the full picture and build a treatment plan around your child.

Programs for extra support. For some families, a more specialized program can help:

• Teens who want to practice skills alongside peers: our DBT skills groups

• Kids and teens who need more support than weekly therapy: our Intensive Outpatient DBT Program for children and teens

• Depression that's keeping a child out of school: our School Refusal Program (DBT-SR)

• Kids who are neurodivergent, including autistic, ADHD, and twice-exceptional (2E) kids: our neurodivergent-informed therapy

• Families who want a clearer picture of what's going on: our psychological assessments

A team behind every family. Our clinicians work together, receive ongoing supervision, and consult on cases, so your child benefits from the experience of the whole team. We are LGBTQIA+ affirming and neurodiversity-informed. Meet our clinical team.

Getting started is simple

Reaching out is the hardest part. We'll take it from there.

1. Book a free 15-minute consultation. Tell us what you're seeing, ask questions, and get a feel for how we work.

2. Get matched with the right clinician. We'll pair your family with the team member best suited to your child's needs.

3. Start therapy. After an intake session, your child begins building skills, and you get support too.

We offer therapy in person at our Brooklyn Heights office and online (telehealth) in 40+ additional states. Online sessions can be a great option for teens who aren't ready to leave the house.

SageMind Psychology is an out-of-network practice. Many families use out-of-network benefits, and we provide superbills to help you seek reimbursement. Learn about rates and insurance.

Book your free consultation or contact us with questions.

Questions parents ask us

How do I know if my teen is depressed or just being a teenager?

Typical teen moodiness comes and goes. Depression tends to stick around for weeks, and it affects how your child functions at school, with friends, and at home. If your gut says something has changed, it's worth talking to a professional.

My child won't leave their room and is always on their phone. Is that depression?

It can be. Pulling away from family, losing interest in activities, and escaping into screens are common signs of depression in kids and teens. They can also be signs of anxiety or other struggles. A consultation can help sort out what's going on.

Why is my depressed child so angry and irritable?

In kids and teens, depression often shows up as irritability rather than sadness. Snapping, arguing, and short tempers can be signs that your child is struggling inside.

What should I say to my child if I think they're depressed?

Start with curiosity instead of fixing. Let them know you've noticed they seem down and that you're there for them, without pressure to talk right away. Parent coaching can help you find words that work for your child.

What if my child doesn't want to go to therapy?

That's very common. Many kids and teens are hesitant at first. Our clinicians focus on building trust and making sessions feel low-pressure, and online sessions can make it easier to get started. We also work with parents directly.

Can my child do therapy online?

Yes. We offer telehealth in New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Vermont, and 40+ additional PSYPACT states, as well as in-person sessions in Brooklyn Heights.

Do you take insurance?

We are an out-of-network practice. We provide superbills you can submit to your insurance for possible reimbursement, and we can help you check your out-of-network benefits. Reimbursement depends on your plan.

What if weekly therapy isn't enough?

For kids and teens who need more support, we offer an Intensive Outpatient DBT Program that combines individual therapy and skills groups. If you need immediate assistance related to suicidality or self-injury, please call 911 or go to your nearest emergency room.