One of the simplest, yet most powerful tools a parent can use to influence their child’s behavior is praise. Praising your child is one of the many valuable skills that are taught, reinforced, and coached during Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT). Praising or complimenting your child’s behavior has many benefits for both the parent and the child.

As a therapist for teenagers I often get asked how a parent can best support their child while they are experiencing symptoms of anxiety and depression. With the help of some of my teenage clients, parents, and fellow therapists, I created this list of possible ways parents can support their child who is experiencing anxiety and/or depression.