Securely Attached

Q&A: How do I tell my child he's going to start therapy?


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Beyond the Sessions is answering YOUR parenting questions! In this episode, Dr. Emily Upshur and I talk about...

  • Why it's important to tell your child that they are starting therapy (and why many parents avoid it).
  • How to explain therapy in simple, developmentally appropriate language your child will actually understand.
  • Why using your child's own words for their struggles, like "worry" or "big feelings," matters.
  • What to call a therapist and how to describe what they do in a way that makes sense to kids.
  • What to do if your child asks, "Is something wrong with me?"
  • Why getting your child's buy-in matters and how to help them feel invested.
  • How to frame therapy as something the whole family is working on together.

This episode will help you feel more confident in how to approach this conversation, reduce anxiety around starting therapy, and support your child in a way that builds trust, openness, and emotional resilience.

REFERENCES AND RELATED RESOURCES:

📚 Want to learn more about talking to your child about going to therapy? Read Upshur Bren Psychology Group's blog article: How to Tell Your Child You're Taking Them to Therapy: A Compassionate, Practical Guide for Parents

👉 Want extra support in your parenting journey? Upshur Bren Psychology Group offers therapy and coaching to give parents the tools to feel more grounded and confident as they navigate parenthood and learn how to most effectively support their child. Visit upshurbren.com to explore our services and schedule a free 30-minute consultation call to find the support that's right for your family.

CHECK OUT ADDITIONAL PODCAST EPISODES YOU MAY LIKE:

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to know if your child is too young for therapy

🎧 Listen to my podcast episode about how to know if group therapy would be a good fit for your child

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU:

Go to https://drsarahbren.com/question to send us a question or a topic you want to hear us answer on Securely Attached - Beyond the Sessions!

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Securely AttachedBy Dr. Sarah Bren

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