Kids today are more aware of their mental health than any generation before. Thanks to the availability of books, therapists’ Instagram accounts, and podcasts, parents are more educated, too. Still, choosing children’s therapy is a big decision. In this episode of the iMOM Podcast, we talk about all the things that inform one’s decision to put her child in therapy.
We start with a conversation about what makes a parent decide to move forward with therapy. Moms know kids are going to face difficulties, and working through those difficulties is what builds resilience (and it’s part of our role as parents). But one of the strongest motivators to start counseling is fear of future regret. Moms think “What if this is more than we can handle on our own? What if she really needs help and we realize it down the road and it’s too late?” Our own childhood experience also plays into the choice for move forward with children’s therapy. We look back and think, “I needed someone to help me through that but it wasn’t an option. I wish it had been.”
On the other hand, some parents choose therapy for their children for the wrong reasons. We’ve become amateur therapists thanks to a few Instagram account follows, and then when our kids show signs of distress, we think it means therapy is the only answer. Susan, Chloe, Abby, and Megan also talk about the pressure parents feel to prove to others that they’re “working on it.” And linked below is the article Abby mentioned that describes parents who are “constantly trying to solve their [kids’] problems and harbour unrealistic expectations of their potential. When they are confronted by their child’s shortcomings or difficulties, these parents seek out clinical diagnoses.”
That’s just a small glimpse at our conversation about an important topic. After you listen, text us via the link in the show notes, and tell us what you think.
Articles We Mentioned
Article from The Sydney Morning Herald
5 Situations That Might Require Therapy for Your Child
7 Things You Can Do to Support Your Child’s Mental Health
5 Things to Boost Kids’ Mental Health
What has influenced your decision to use children’s therapy or not?
