Preteen showing interested in occult

Q: My neice is 9, she lives mostly with her mom and I only see her every few months.

Her dad is completely against us talking with her about God, and has asked my sister to not let us “brainwash her”. She’s only with her dad half the week. My sister is not happy when we talk with her about God, but she tolerates it to a degree (and she tells her that some people believe in God even if she doesn’t, and to be respectful towards them). 

She gets anxious quite often, and I think the interest in the occult is to feel like she has power over her life. The interest in the occult can definitely cause increased anxiety, so it’s kind of a self feeding cycle 😞. 

A: She should get good helps on this, and possibly seek medical attention, but professional biblical counseling can give her appropriate care. 

Anxiety is the symptom. The root could be so many things. I know it is not up to you to solve a lot of those possibilities, but I think anything that points to God's love for her, and apologetics would be great! The Truth is what she can stand on mentally and emotionally in shaky times.

Helping her sounds like it might be a bit hard cuz your sister might not allow you counseling her on this isdue,...but maybe if you show her how Christianity can be a positive help for those with life problems, and maybe also show her a video about how really bad witchcraft and occult lifestyles are [perhaps it might get her to lean towards a counselor you recommend]. 

With that said, here are some helpful resources, you might be able to use in conversations with your niece, 

This has 4 books and other resources you can look through on anxiety.

Further down are sermons on anxiety. You can go through them with her. But, she is far away you could send her a link (as you review them and find ones useful, or all, and send one at a time). 

While these books are teen/adult age range, you can glean from them and figure out "what to share & present to her" in anxiety discussions that someone her age would grasp. 

https://snsanswers.blogspot.com/2022/06/anxiety-depression-suicidal-panic.html

There is a link to biblical counselors, you can look for some in her/yiur area and possibly even get their advice. 

These books on knowing God might help in her age range, but because it is Kay Arthur material you will need to examine the material first and use with caution, and guidance but it is a good option.

Bible studies to know God, Here’s one i did with my kids: https://amzn.to/473u1VO

Also this one about the names of God: https://amzn.to/40hwsl8

Even the book Knowing God by Packer, or pastor videos on that topic. Building up your knowledge of God puts your self orientation into perspective. Soli Deo Gloria is a great cure for anxiety.

These books could also help.

Afraid of All The Things by Scarlet Hiltibidal

Lies Young Girls Believe, by 

You can also look at resources on apologetics related to the occult. 

Mama Bear Apologetics is supposed to be good, so you can look into how resources there could help. 

Here's some more directional help towards researching apologetics on the topic.  

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I am not sure about YouTube resources for young people 🤔 that is solid and geared for them. But If I ever hear of any I will update this. 👍

It does feel like Disney and Disney + and kids shows on tv today are about witches. Cutting those shows and movies about that and magic out would be a good first step tooooo.

This is definitely tough. Praise God she has you in her life. Pray pray pray! God hears your prayers and sometimes that’s ‘all’ we can do. Have little bits of conversations when you see her to test waters. Not pushy or ‘reportable’ big stuff. Keep loving her and building trust, laying a groundwork for the future as you continue to pray for her. She will know you are solid, trustworthy, and that she can come to confide and ask you things. May God give you opportunity and multiply your efforts🤗. Praying for you and her.