Embracing Therapy for Kids: Age-Appropriate Tips to Help Children Overcome Resistance and Benefit from Therapy

As a parent, it can be challenging when you know therapy could benefit your child, but they resist or feel apprehensive about attending sessions. This can lead to stressful mornings and a sense of frustration on both sides. However, there are ways to help your child view therapy in a more positive light. Below, we provide tips tailored for each developmental stage, from kindergarten through eighth grade, to help your child embrace therapy as a supportive and beneficial part of their growth.

Kindergarten to 2nd Grade: Introducing Therapy as a Positive Experience

Make it Familiar: For young children, the unknown can be scary. Introduce the idea of therapy by equating it to something familiar and fun, like playtime. Explain that they'll be doing activities they enjoy, like drawing or playing games, which will help them feel more at ease.

Use Storytelling: Children love stories. Use this to your advantage by reading books about characters who go to therapy and learn new skills, showing them that it’s a normal and positive experience.

Positive Reinforcement: Reward your child when they talk about their feelings or participate in therapy without fuss. This could be verbal praise, a sticker, or a small reward like extra playtime.

3rd to 5th Grade: Building Understanding and Engagement

Involve Them in the Process: At this age, children appreciate feeling involved. Let them have a say in setting goals for their therapy or choosing activities they’d like to do during their sessions. This gives them a sense of control and investment.

Educate About Emotions: Therapy often focuses on understanding and managing emotions. Use tools like emotion charts or apps that help children learn to identify and express their feelings in a healthy way.

Normalize Therapy: Discuss the commonality of therapy, emphasizing that many people, including some of their favorite celebrities or athletes, participate in therapy to help them handle their feelings and stress better.

6th to 8th Grade: Fostering Independence and Resilience

Connect Therapy to Personal Goals: Help your child understand how therapy can help them achieve personal goals, whether it's improving their relationships, excelling in sports, or feeling happier on a daily basis.

Encourage Self-Advocacy: Teach your middle schoolers about self-advocacy and the importance of speaking up for their needs within therapy. Encourage them to share their feelings about what works and what doesn’t with their therapist.

Highlight the Science: Children at this age can appreciate more detailed explanations. Discuss how therapy can physically and mentally change the brain to help them feel better, which can be very empowering.

Creating a Supportive Environment at Home: Make sure you're providing a supportive environment where feelings and therapy are discussed openly. Share your own experiences or feelings sometimes, demonstrating that it's okay to need help and to talk about these things.

At Havern School, we integrate therapy into our daily curriculum, ensuring that our neurodivergent learners receive consistent support in a familiar and safe environment. By making therapy a regular part of school life, we help demystify the process and integrate it seamlessly into our students' educational experience. For our students, therapy becomes just another part of the day, as normal as math or reading, which helps in reducing any stigma or reluctance they might feel about participating.

We hope these strategies help you guide your child towards a more positive perception of therapy. Remember, every child is different, and part of this journey is discovering what resonates best with your child. Our integrated approach at Havern ensures that every student's unique needs are met with understanding, care, and professionalism. If you have any concerns or need advice tailored to your child’s specific needs, don't hesitate to reach out to us.