HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR THERAPY As adults, even though the decision is ours, we are filled with nerves and are clueless about what to expect from our first visit to a therapist. You can only imagine how difficult and confusing a first time visit to a therapist can be for a kid. Therapy takes effort and time. It requires us to talk about our issues and things we are not comfortable speaking about, it requires us to change our unhealthy behavioral patterns, learn new coping mechanisms and skills and be open to change. Your child, no matter what age, is not equipped to fathom these sorts of things. Helping your child comprehend who a therapist is and what to expect from therapy can be a daunting task. When parents visit a child psychologist, the first question they usually ask is “How do I explain this whole process to my child?” Read on to find out how you can make the first therapy session easier for your child.
Here are a few things that you can do to help your child comprehend the process and prepare him/her for therapy sessions • First and foremost, you need to address the issue with your child. Whether it is abuse, addiction in teenagers, behavioral issues, learning issues, or because you and your partner are going through a divorce, whatever the reason is, you need to discuss it with your child before starting therapy. Be honest and communicate clearly with them. Although you might be tempted to tell them that you are taking them for a doctor’s visit, or that you’re taking them out to meet a friend of yours, don’t. By misleading them you are only going to end up making them feel apprehensive about the process. If you are going to take them in for behavioral therapy for children or to visit a psychologist, you need to be honest and tell them that. • Explain the concept of therapy and a therapist - Help them understand that a therapist is going to help them and is going to speak to them about their issues and that they will help them solve their problems and teach them ways through which they can cope with difficult situations. Let them know that the therapist’s office is a safe zone for them to share their feelings and not be judged. Children might think that the therapist is on their parent’s side, working against them. You need to establish the fact that the therapist will always be on your child’s side. • One of the biggest misconceptions amongst people, especially children is that - anyone who visits a therapist is “crazy/mad”. And a lot of times the first thing that children tell therapists is - “I am not mad/crazy, I don’t know why I am here.” Let them know that therapy is for everyone and if they have heard their peers use any negative labels for people who visit a therapist, then they are wrong. As parents, you need normalize the experience of therapy sessions. Taking your child to his/her first therapy session or family counseling session is not an easy task, but with the right strategy you can make it a positive and successful experience for your child. http://www.tanuchoksi.in/