Therapy, a powerful tool in fostering mental health, requires an intentional and collaborative approach to truly optimise its benefits. For parents navigating this path alongside their child, active participation and purposeful strategies can make a substantial difference in the outcome. However, it also can be nerve wracking for both you and your child when you’re not sure what to expect. In this collaborative guide, I'll explore tips and strategies designed to enhance the therapeutic experience for both your child and your family. These are geared towards parents of children aged 5-12 years.
Normalise seeing a psychologist or therapist: Creating a space for honesty and vulnerability is fundamental to the therapeutic process. Encourage your child to openly share their thoughts, emotions, and experiences, even when it feels challenging or they are worried about meeting a professional to discuss this. Normalise that we often seek help to develop different strengths and talents. For example, having a football coach or going to piano lessons. Also, we attend a guidance counsellor to help with career choices. Seeing a therapist can help us identify and use strengths to overcome challenges we are facing or areas we'd like a little support in. Embrace discussions around fears, doubts, insecurities, as well as what successes and triumphs might look like. Fostering an environment of openness and honesty builds trust, laying a strong foundation for the success of therapy. Remember not to put pressure on your child to attend. Instead suggest they try 1-2 sessions to see if it is something that will be helpful or to see if that particular therapist would be a good fit for them.
Collaborative Goal-Setting: Maximising the benefits of therapy begins with establishing clear and realistic goals, co-created directly with your child. This collaborative process ensures that your child's needs, rights, values, and perspectives remain central to the therapeutic journey. The therapist will identify specific outcomes your child hopes to achieve—whether addressing mental health concerns like anxiety, enhancing relationships with friends, or fostering a greater sense of confidence.
You will also work closely with the therapist to formulate achievable, measurable goals aligned with your child's aspirations; however, it is the child’s voice that is central part of the therapeutic plan. This ensures the experience is empowering for them.
Encourage Self-Awareness: Facilitate your child's journey towards self-awareness, an important part of effective therapy, by demonstrating how you stay mindful of your own thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, understanding their impact on mental health. A nice way to do this is at meal times together get in the habit of each family member discussing something that went really well for them today and how that made them feel. Then something that did not go so well and how that made you feel, while also suggesting potential solutions or coping strategies you will try.
Active Engagement Between Sessions: Recognise that therapy extends beyond session hours, requiring active engagement between appointments for continuous progress. Encourage your child to practice self-care through activities like exercise, maintaining a balanced diet, and ensuring good sleep hygiene. Engage with homework assignments or 'show that I can tasks' provided by the psychologist and implement strategies discussed in sessions for a holistic and sustained therapeutic experience.
Open Channels of Communication: Regular and open communication is vital throughout the therapeutic journey. Encourage your child to share feedback on the progression of therapy, highlighting beneficial aspects and also be sure to highlight they should address any concerns or challenges they have with their psychologist. During the sessions, your psychologist/therapist will actively encourage the child/young person to provide them with honest feedback and adapt the way they work with them to meet their needs and preference. Your child’s psychologist know children are all unique and that they are the experts in their own lives!
Actively participate in conversations with the therapist, expressing your observations and seeking guidance on how to best support your child. Collaborative communication ensures the therapy plan remains tailored to your child's evolving needs and goals.
In conclusion: In essence, your active involvement, clear communication, and commitment to self-discovery play a crucial role in the success of therapy. By embracing these strategies, parents become pivotal in creating a supportive and enriching environment that maximises the positive impact of therapy for their child.
Author: Dr Alexis Carey is a Chartered Health Psychologist and a Cognitive Behavioural Therapist specialising in the well-being of children, adolescents, and young adults. For more information or to book an appointment go to www.lifeskillsdojo.com