Supporting Children’s Mental Health Through Compassionate Care
Author(s): Scott Douglas Jacobsen
Publication (Outlet/Website): The Good Men Project
Publication Date (yyyy/mm/dd): 2025/05/21
Erik Larson, PMHNP-BC, is the owner of Larson Mental Health in Denver, Colorado. A seasoned mental health professional, he has worked in healthcare since 2005. After earning nursing degrees from Regis University and the University of Colorado, he served as a U.S. Army Captain and psychiatric nurse practitioner, supporting elite military units. He now treats conditions including PTSD, depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and TBI. With additional public health training from Johns Hopkins, Larson combines clinical precision with compassionate care. His practice emphasizes efficient, effective treatment tailored to individual needs. He is licensed in Colorado and Wyoming and is LGBTQ-friendly.
Scott Douglas Jacobsen: What is a secure attachment in the context of contemporary family life?
Erik Larson: In modern psychology, it is generally recognized that the family carries the fundamental conditions for the mental development and formation of the child’s personality as a whole. The child begins forming these relationships from birth, and secure attachment is the basis of all these interactions. This is not just love or attention, but a stable, consistent parental presence, where the child feels that their needs will be heard and met. In simple terms, the child should know that the world around them is predictable, and relationships with loved ones are always reliable. Create a space for deep, conscious interactions where the child actively participates in creating a safe environment for themself and others, rather than just accepting love, especially in the context of a modern family where stress and the fast pace of life can destroy such connections.
Jacobsen: How does instability in relationships affect a child’s sleep, speech, and emotional regulation?
Larson: Such situations cause a child to feel anxious and uncertain, which directly affects their nervous system. If there is no predictability and reliability in the family, the child cannot fully relax. They are always on edge, which can lead to insomnia or restless nights. One may struggle with emotional regulation because they don’t receive the level of support necessary for the safe expression and processing of their emotions. Often, this is manifested in slow or distorted speech development (he doesn’t feel confident to communicate openly), and behavior that begins to be perceived as “inappropriate.”
Jacobsen: How do you distinguish between behaviour showing emotional issues and that part of normal child development?
When a child’s behavior, such as excessive anxiety, aggression, isolation, or constant irritability, persists for a long time and interferes with their daily life, this may be a sign of emotional distress. Unlike normal age-related whims or protests, such problems manifest in the form of frequent bouts of anxiety, aggression, or alienation, and do not go away after the child calms down. If a child constantly feels depressed, cannot cope with ordinary situations, or avoids communication, this already requires attention since such reactions interfere with their normal development.
Jacobsen: What is the role of consistency in daily routines for emotionally secure and mentally healthy children?
Larson: Very important, because when a child knows what to expect and when to expect it, it helps reduce anxiety and creates a stable foundation for proper emotional regulation.
What techniques can children learn about emotional expression without causing harm?
Children are quite capable of mastering simple yet effective ways to express strong feelings without yelling, hitting, or withdrawing into themselves. The key question is how these skills are demonstrated and by whom. One useful technique is to name emotions with words and treat them as causal relationships, such as “I am angry because …” or “I feel sad when …”. To help a child master this skill, adults nearby should model the same behavior. This way, it will be easier for the child to adopt it.
Jacobsen: How can parents identify the early signs of anxiety or depression?
Larson: Parents should be wary if a child suddenly changes behavior for no apparent reason. They may become withdrawn, stop communicating with friends, give up favorite activities, etc. Sometimes anxiety and depression manifest themselves through irritability, apathy, or frequent complaints about well-being without any visible problems. If such changes last longer than a couple of weeks and prevent the child from participation in daily activities and routines, this is a reason to pay greater attention.
What are effective strategies for helping children cope with stress and anxiety?
The first thing a parent can do is try to smooth things over as much as possible by creating an atmosphere of calm, trust, and support. This way, the child will know that at least in one place they can feel comfortable, safe, and confident. Another point worth paying attention to is the amount of quality time spent together. Parents should seek to regularly play and talk together with their children.
Jacobsen: How do medication management and therapy work in supporting children’s mental health?
Larson: Medication is used to alleviate the symptoms, reduce anxiety, stabilize mood, or improve focus (everything is individual). However, in parallel with this, therapy can help the child understand and express their emotions and cope with difficult situations. In this way, medications and therapy work together for a more effective and safe result.
Jacobsen: Thank you for the opportunity and your time, Erik.
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