Your Child's Mental Health Diagnosis: A Comprehensive and Compassionate Guide for Parents

The go-to guide for those raising children with mental disorders that Booklist calls a "reassuring guide" and a "genuinely helpful handbook."

The prevalence of mental health disorders in children is rising in the United States. In fact, recent studies estimate that one in six children ages six to seventeen have a mental health disorder.

Your Child's Mental Health Diagnosis: A Comprehensive and Compassionate Guide for Parents is a valuable resource for parents who have a child diagnosed with a mental health disorder or who are concerned about their child's emotional well-being. Jacqueline Corcoran, an academic and clinical expert with personal experience on the subject, draws back the curtain on how diagnoses are determined in the U.S., the limits of labels, and how labels can help. Then, organized by common mental health disorders, Corcoran provides comprehensive information about each condition's symptoms, frequently co-occurring disorders, contributory factors, evidence-based treatments, medication options, working with your child's school, and insight from parents' own experiences.

Your Child's Mental Health Diagnosis also addresses the overwhelming emotions parents may feel when witnessing their child suffer and emphasizes the importance of parents looking after their own mental health and relationships. An empathetic guide backed by up-to-date research, this book provides the support, information, and practical strategies parents need to help their child thrive despite the challenges they may face.

Jacqueline Corcoran, PhD, is a professor at the University of Pennsylvania in the School of Social Policy and Practice, where her courses include child and adolescent mental health, clinical assessment, and cognitive behavioral therapy. She belongs to the National Association of Social Workers, the Council on Social Work Education, and the Society for Research and Social Work. She is also a licensed clinical social worker for children and parents. Dr. Corcoran shares the lived experience of having two children who have been diagnosed with a range of disorders.