How Parents Can Support Their Teen in Therapy

There are several ways that a teenager’s need for mental health treatment can come to a parent’s attention. Sometimes parents notice that something doesn’t seem quite right; sometimes teens will ask directly for the extra help and support; sometimes school personnel will raise the suggestion; and sometimes a teenager’s friend will reach out to the parent to express concern. 

We are living in a time where the stigma of mental health care is lifting and access to services is slowly growing. These factors bode well for your teenager’s willingness to take the first step. Once they have connected with a therapist, what can parents do to support their teen’s therapy? 

Here are some practical tips for supporting your child in their course of treatment: 

Offer Praise

Going to therapy implies a commitment to personal growth and change. Change is hard. Your teenager has chosen to pursue a challenge that will ultimately lead to self-improvement. Their commitment is praiseworthy. Tell them you’re impressed with their dedication. Say out loud that you’re proud of their courage and how hard they are working. 

Encourage Open and Honest Communication

No matter how well educated or trained your child’s therapist is, their effectiveness will be limited if your teenager is holding back or keeping a secret. In other cases, teenagers might be prone to embellishing their concerns, particularly if they have not felt like they were being understood before now. It is most helpful to a teenager if they see their parents model honest, non-judgmental communication about the challenges they’re facing. 

Model Commitment with Consistency

Regular and prompt attendance at therapy appointments is very important for building rapport and treatment progress. Teenagers might not be able to transport themselves to therapy. It is important that caregivers show up in this way for their children. In the event that you are unable to transport one week, it would be very helpful if you could make arrangements with another family member to transport your child. We know that life happens, work obligations occasionally interfere with typical availability, and we expect that cancellations are inevitable at times. Holding in mind that canceling is the last option and not the first would be very helpful to and supportive of your teenager’s treatment progress.

Offer Space

Before or after a session, your child might need the space to think about their agenda and goals for the session. For some, this could mean they need some quiet and reflective time. For others, it could mean they need a sounding board. As a supportive caregiver, it would be helpful to the process overall if you ask your child what their preference is and then do your best to offer the space they need. 

Ask to Check-In

In a strong working relationship, teens and their therapists fill the weekly hour with important conversations and skills to learn and practice. There is little to no time to touch base with caregivers in the timeframe allotted for the adolescent. Please feel free to ask for a separate meeting to touch base, review progress, and learn techniques to support your child. If there is crucial information about your child that you feel compelled to share with the therapist, we encourage you to let your child know your plan to do that ahead of the meeting. 

Your child might wish to share it themself. Your child might also ask the therapist how much and what kinds of session information will be shared with caregivers. We will explain to your child that their confidentiality is still intact, and we will ask for their agreement on information that can be shared. Parent check-ins are expected and in no way a hardship, so please feel free to ask if you deem it helpful. 

In summary, navigating your role as a parent supporting a teenager in therapy is an active process. It involves collaboratively supporting your child with what they need and the willingness to offer those things. 

If you and your child have difficulty communicating in this way, your therapist can help with that, too. At ABC Counseling, we are here to help and support you and your family. Reach out to us today at info@abccma.com.