Your Guide to Child Therapy: Building Trust and Tracking Growth
Are you unsure of the logistics for your child in therapy or nervous that you won’t have indicators of progress? If you’re an unsure parent or caregiver considering putting your child in therapy, let’s break it down. The first basic answer is therapy looks different for every child. It might also require more patience than you anticipate.
The therapist will first work on building rapport with your child. Most children do not come into therapy ready to talk about their feelings or opening up to a complete stranger. Building rapport or trust may take time depending on your child. Therapists may use games, art, and fidget toys in session. Sessions may start out very simple with discussing favorite shows/movies or hobbies. These activities help them feel safe and comfortable to open up. As the therapist facilitates activities, your child starts to open up, and it increases your child’s capacity to discuss tough conversations.
Patience is essential! Therapy is a slow and steady process that isn’t always linear. Every child needs a personalized approach and it may take them weeks to open up. That’s okay, this is normal! We try to meet where the child is at and the timeline depends on them. It’s important to set expectations as a parent to be realistic in the process in order to not put additional pressure on the dynamic.
How does progress happen? Progress can happen through change in thoughts, feelings, behaviors, and relationships. It may not look obvious right away. Every child’s progress will look different depending on goals and developmental stage. Progress does not only happen in the therapy room, but also at home and school. Are they using coping skills? Are they handling tough situations better? Are they less anxious? Are they making friends? Are they more focused at school? Are they communicating their needs? Embracing small shifts helps maintain overall change.
Here are some examples:
Thoughts: Changing “I can’t” to “I can”.
Feelings: They feel more comfortable talking about their feelings.
Behaviors: Fewer arguments and more cooperation from them.
Relationships: Better interactions with teachers, friends, and family.
Every child’s journey is unique. Progress is a team effort and collaboration is important. Remember to stay patient, be involved in the therapy process, and trust it! If you are thinking about therapy for your child and have lots of questions, that’s okay! We are here to answer them.
