Bringing a child to therapy is a big decision for most parents. Some parents worry that seeking therapy for their child means that they are not an adequate parents and can’t handle problems on their own. They might worry what others think of them and their child, or feel bad that there is something wrong with them. These thoughts can easily run through a parent’s head because our society forgets that a psychological problem is no different than a physical problem.
Our bodies, thoughts, and feelings are all interconnected. Social and emotional struggles occur for many different reasons and children’s challenges can come in all shapes and sizes. The fact that parents are seeking support for their child should be seen as a strength, not a weakness. The first session will be an Intake Session where the therapist will meet with both the parent and the child to obtain a family history, a clear understanding of the presenting problem and then make clinical recommendations, including frequency of sessions. The sessions following that will likely be the therapist and your child.
Any information you need to provide to the therapist should be given prior to the session. It is important not to ask your child what they talked about as they may not want to share or be able to verbalize. The therapist will give you feedback from time to time and may schedule separate sessions to discuss progress or make suggestions regarding the client’s needs at home.