Anxiety, Depression, Withdrawal and Aggressive Behavior

Before a California court will find that a child has suffered serious emotional damage, it looks for concrete signs. The four that come up again and again are:

• Severe anxiety
• Depression
• Withdrawal
• Untoward aggressive behavior

Social workers usually document these through school reports, therapist notes, teacher interviews and their own observations. The details matter a great deal. A single tearful interview is very different from months of documented symptoms. A child who is sleeping, eating, attending school and keeping up with friends paints a very different picture than a child who has stopped functioning.

When we defend parents in these cases, one of the first things I do is build a complete picture of how the child is actually doing. You can start that yourself:

• Report cards and attendance records
• Pediatrician and dental visits
• Sports, clubs and other activities
• Notes from teachers or coaches

If your child is struggling, don't hide it. Getting your child appropriate support early shows the court that you see the problem and are responding to it, which is exactly what the court wants to see.

To understand how these signs fit into the larger case, read my posts.

If CPS is questioning your child's emotional well-being, call me at (855) 472-7368 for a