Statistics show that at any given time, around 50 million Indian children are living with mental disorders. This number could be much higher if the adolescent population is also considered.

Unfortunately, people of all ages who suffer from mental disorders in India don’t have access to proper treatment and care. When childhood mental health issues are left unaddressed, they can get severe and affect a person’s well-being in adulthood. 

Common mental health issues in children

Mental disorders in children happen when there are changes in behavior and managing emotions. This can include learning development disabilities, behavior and emotional dysfunction, and increased risk for self-harm or substance abuse. 

Some of the common mental health issues in children are:

• Anxiety disorders: Children can suffer from many forms of anxiety disorders. Signs include reacting to certain situations with extreme dread or fear, experiencing separation anxiety, refusing school, or being anxious about class performance. They may also show physical signs, such as sweating and rapid heartbeat.
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD): ADHD is one of the most common childhood mental disorders. Children who have ADHD have problems concentrating, get easily frustrated, and are impulsive. Untreated ADHD can cause academic issues at school. It is also associated with comorbidities such as behavior disorders, which can worsen over time.
• Disruptive behavior disorders: This includes oppositional defiant disorder and conduct disorder. These conditions can either co-exist with ADHD or exist independently. Affected children are often aggressive and violent, having impaired peer and family relationships.

How can a child psychologist help?

Child psychologists are crucial in enabling children to learn coping skills and enhance their development. They can understand the child’s psychological needs and their capabilities and provide appropriate guidance and support to both the child and the parents.

Child psychologists use a range of techniques when working with adolescents, such as:

• Assessing psychological, cognitive, and behavioral issues using various testing methods.
• Managing behavior issues by using talk therapy.
• Developing prevention programs, such as prevention of bullying, addiction, teen pregnancy, etc.
• Closely working with child psychiatrists and pediatricians to diagnose and treat mental health issues in children.

Child psychologists use various therapy techniques to treat a child’s mental health issues like

• Art therapy
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
• Anger management therapy
• Music therapy
• Group therapy

Top 6 child psychologists in India

Here are some of the top child psychologists in India who can help you and your child improve your quality of life.

Our criteria for choosing these 6 professionals out of the many qualified therapists out there include factors like extensive experience, deep specialization, recognition from professional bodies, and reputation and client reviews.

#1 Dr Diana Monteiro

Dr Monteiro is one of the leading child psychologists in India. She obtained her PhD in Counseling Psychology from the University of Southern Mississippi, USA. She returned to India in 2008 and started providing psychological services.

Dr. Monterio served as the counseling psychologist at NALSAR University of Law. Her expertise includes working with adolescents, dealing with relationship issues, suicide prevention, and communication issues.

You can find her timings and other details here and you can read more about her on The Hyderabad Academy of Psychology. 

#2 Dr Shachee Dalvi

Dr Dalvi is a psychologist based in Mumbai and has done an MS in Counseling and Psychotherapy. She holds a PhD in child psychology and specializes in child and women’s psychological issues.

Her areas of expertise include:

• Childhood behavioral issues
• Childhood depression
• Anxiety and phobias
• Academic and school-related topics such as bullying

You can find her details here.

Website: The Holistic Living

#3 Dr Owais Akram Farooqui

Dr Farooqui has 20+ years of experience as a counseling psychologist currently based in New Delhi. He has a PhD in Neuro Psychology from Jamia Millia Islamia Central University, Delhi.

He is the Consultant clinical psychologist at the Dharamshila Cancer Hospital and Research Center.

Dr. Farooqui’s specialties include anger management and addiction therapy.

You can book an appointment with him here.

Dr Farooqui’s Instagram

#4 Dr Ashima Srivastava

Dr Srivastava is a licensed child and adult clinical psychologist with work experience of 24 years. She is currently based in Delhi. 

She completed her MPhil in Clinical Psychology from the Institute of Human Behaviour and Allied Sciences, Delhi. She is trained and certified by the University of California in diagnosing and treating developmental disorders like ADHD and autism.  

Dr Srivastava is presently practicing as a child and adolescent psychologist and behavior therapist at Max Super Speciality Hospital, Delhi.

You can find her booking details here.

Dr Srivastava’s Instagram

#5 Dr Dipti Yadav

Dr Yadav is a psychologist and career counselor based in Gurgaon. She has an overall experience of 20 years as a psychologist.

Dr Yadav is trained in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Hypnotherapy. She has a PhD in Clinical Psychology and specializes in managing depression, anxiety, stress, phobias, and negative self-beliefs. She also offers career counseling. 

You can book an appointment with her here.

Find her on the Mental Wellness Center.

#6 Dr Diya Nangia Kapoor

Dr Kapoor received her MPhil from NIMHANS, Bangalore. She is based in Delhi and has 10+ years of experience as a counseling psychologist.

Her expertise includes teen anger management, anxiety disorders, and family counseling.

You can find her booking details here.

Find her on Eka Care.

Should your child see a child psychologist?

Here are a few signs that your child might benefit from seeing a child psychologist.

• Your child is experiencing behavioral problems and is often angry and aggressive.
• Your child is having problems at school, and as a result, their academics are suffering.
• Your child needs to figure out and better manage their emotional and mental health issues.
• Your child is diagnosed with ADHD or falls under the autism spectrum and needs to learn better social interaction skills. 

Understanding how a child thinks and feels is important to parents and caregivers to spot signs of developmental delays and other issues. With early intervention and the support of a child psychologist adults can build a caring, nurturing environment for children to not just get better but to thrive.