Should I seek counseling or therapy for my child?  
Here are some things to consider

Advice - 
Before jumping into therapy, have you considered that you, as the parent, are likely to have the greatest influence and support in helping your child through many situations.  

Oftentimes we suggest that we spend our counseling sessions with the parents to help give them the tools necessary to tend to their child.  
The counselor is typically only going to see your child a couple times a month for about an hour.  That’s not much time to make the changes or address the issues.  

However, if the parent has the proper tools and approaches, they are with their child so much more than the therapist and can make significantly greater gains in a given period. 

Seek wise counsel. Teachers, counselors, trusted friends and family. What do they see? Is it out of line for their age? 
With that being said, sometimes there are situations that are completely beyond the scope of the average parent.  In these times, here are some things to consider when looking into therapy for your child. 

Your child's needs: What are the specific concerns you have about your child's emotional or behavioral well-being? Are they struggling with anxiety, sadness, anger, social interactions, or academic performance? Identifying their needs will help you find the right type of therapy.

Open communication: Talk to your child about your concerns and the idea of counseling. Be open and honest, and assure them that it's a safe space to talk about their feelings and get help. Listen to their questions and fears, and address them honestly and patiently.

Things to look for: Pervasive sadness, anger, fears. That are debilitating them. They don’t want to go to school. Abusive or harmful behaviors to themselves or others. Lashing out, hitting, illegal or promiscuous behavior. Sneaking out, underage drinking, illicit drugs, suicide. 988

Finding the right therapist: Look for a therapist with experience working with children, especially those facing similar issues to your child. Consider your child's age, personality, and preferences when choosing a therapist. At Rock Solid Families, we typically want to meet with the parents first to learn more about the child and situation and determine if we are a good fit. 

Commitment and patience: It’s easy to think that a few sessions will “fix” the child and everyone will be good.  Be prepared, depending on the reason why you were seeking help to begin with, to stay committed with the work of therapy.  Beyond the actually presenting problem, it will take time for a therapeutic relationship to build between the counselor and child.  Trust, communication, and program building will take time. 

Family involvement: In these days family can take on a lot of different looks.  Having the people involved that are in the parenting process can be critical.  This may mean inviting ex-spouses, grandparents, or others that are regularly involved in the the parenting progress. 

Seeking professional help can be an opportunity for growth and healing for the child and family. It also shows your commitment to your child's well-being and that you are not minimizing the importance of their well-being.  

National Suicide Hotline - 988
website:  https://rocksolidfamilies.org

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