It’s that time of year again. Back to school! This can be exciting and also hard for children and families. Does the thought of your child starting back to school bring up feelings of fear, anxiety, or worry? Do you get that uneasy feeling in the pit of your stomach when you remember what happened last year in school? Don’t worry, you are not alone. Parents tell me all the time that school can be a difficult place for their child. Anxiety, depression, anger, attention problems, and defiance often show up in the classroom. Parents want their children to do well academically, but they also want their kids to feel their best and enjoy being at school. I have helped lots of children tackle their school issues head on and create a plan that helps them enjoy school more.
In therapy we start with an assessment which is our guide on what’s working well and what we want to improve. Next we build the relationship! Yes, that’s right. No fancy magic tricks or quick solutions here. Change happens within the context of relationship. Then once we establish a relationship we start with talking about feelings, exploring coping skills, and coming up with solutions to the problem.
If you are worried that your child will feel embarrassed or shy about coming to therapy, that’s normal. I have some helpful tips here that will help you explain therapy to your child. If you feel embarrassed, weird, unsure about reaching out to someone to ask for help for your child, this is actually very normal too. Lots of parents tell me during their first session that it was hard to make that first call. Often I hear that they weren’t even sure what to expect in therapy or that they always thought therapy was for people who had a long history of problems. Sometimes one parent is all about therapy and the other doesn’t think the child really needs it.
Back to school doesn’t have to be something you or your child dread. Our time together is a safe place to explore, create, and develop solutions together. Let’s develop a plan that best fits your child’s needs today so school becomes a place they thrive. Call me today at 252-246-6382, send me a message here, or feel free to email me directly.
Be Well,
Cathy