Preparing kids and teens for their first appointment
A common question we receive is, “How do I talk to my child about introducing therapy?” This is a fantastic question!
Feeling nervous about starting therapy is normal. How parents talk to their kids about therapy can help them feel more at ease and ready for their first session.
It’s important for children to get comfortable talking about their feelings, which sets the stage for what happens in therapy and makes the whole process feel more normal. When parents openly discuss any behaviours that worry them, it shows that there’s nothing to feel embarrassed about.
As parents, we want what’s best for our children, and therapy can be a valuable tool in helping them navigate through life’s challenges. However, there are common mistakes that can inadvertently hinder the therapeutic process.
In this article, we will discuss four crucial mistakes to avoid when introducing therapy to your child. By being aware of these pitfalls, you can ensure a positive and effective therapeutic experience for your child. So, let’s dive in and explore how to approach therapy in a way that fosters growth and well-being for your little one.
To do vs Not to
do
1. The Shame Game:
“I’m tired of your behaviour. You’re going to therapy! I’m calling to book tomorrow. You better listen to your therapist.”
Instead…
Express your concerns by saying: “I’m noticing that you’ve been having a really tough time dealing with your anger lately. I know that you don’t want to hurt your friends, but it’s hard for you to control your anger. I love you and want to help you“
2. The Play Break:
“You’ll be going to therapy next week. But guess what? It’ll be so fun. You’ll get to play with your therapist the whole time!”
While play therapy involves gams and fun activities, we are still integrating a lot of skills, and processing big feelings. If you want to understand more how play therapy works, you can learn more here.
Instead…
Set realistic expectations: “When you meet with “insert therapist name”, you will get to do lots of different things to help with “insert presenting problem”. You might learn new things, talk to her, read special books, and play with toys and games too. Sometimes you might have big feelings in therapy like sadness, worry, or anger. That’s OK! “Insert therapist name” will be there to help you with any big feelings. I will do a check-in with “insert therapist name” sometimes to let her know how you’re doing at home and to learn what you’re doing so we could do some of those things at home too.”
3. The Unknown:
“Oh I forgot to tell you, I scheduled you for a therapy session. It’s today at 3:00pm”
Instead…
Introduce therapy by saying: “We might need some extra help with your worries so I’ll be calling to book an appointment for therapy. A therapist is a person who helps kids with their big feelings and worries. They see kids for lots of different reasons. I will talk to your therapist first and then you’ll get to meet them.”
4. The Tell ’em Everything:
“You better tell your therapist about what happened at school today. Make sure to tell her what happened at dad’s house too.”
Instead …
Empower your child by saying:
“These sessions are just for you, and can talk to therapist about anything you want. If you want to tell me about your session, you can, but it’s entirely up to you”
Conclusion
By avoiding these communication pitfalls, you can create a positive and supportive environment around therapy for your child, helping them feel understood and empowered in their journey towards emotional well-being.
Now that you’ve taken the time to learn about how to communicate with your child, we want to congratulate you on taking this important step to support your child’s well-being. Book Here for a free consult with us if want more ideas or if you’re ready to book the first session!
