How Do I Know When It’s Time to Bring My Child to Therapy?
As a parent, deciding whether to bring your child to therapy can feel like walking a tightrope. You want to make sure you’re giving them the tools they need, but you might worry if it’s “too soon” or if you’re overreacting. First things first: just asking this question shows how much you care about your child’s well-being. And the truth is, there’s no perfect moment to start therapy—but there are some signs that it might be a good idea.
If your child is struggling emotionally, socially, or behaviorally, and those struggles are impacting their day-to-day life, it might be time to consider therapy. Whether it’s big feelings that seem too big for them to handle, difficulties with school or friendships, or even behavioral challenges at home, therapy can help provide clarity and support. There are several approaches tailored to meet kids where they are, including play therapy, sand tray therapy, and support for parents through parent coaching.
Play Therapy: For younger kids, play is their language. Through play therapy, children can process emotions, explore experiences, and work through challenges in a way that feels natural to them.
Sand Tray Therapy: This approach is great for kids who struggle to express their thoughts verbally. Using miniatures and a tray of sand, children can create a world that reflects their inner experiences, helping adults understand what they’re working through.
TF-CBT and CBT: For older kids, teens, or those dealing with trauma, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can help them reframe unhelpful thoughts and develop healthier coping strategies.
Sometimes, the need for therapy isn’t just about the child—it’s about strengthening the parent-child relationship. Parent coaching can provide practical tools to navigate difficult situations while building a deeper connection with your child.
Lastly, some kiddos don’t benefit from therapy, because it isn’t the right time for them to get into it. Sometimes that can be related to the “fit”, that they don’t connect with the therapist, and that’s a really important part of the work for kids and adults to find success in therapy. Sometimes, kids just don’t want to be there and aren’t ready to talk about what is going on with anyone. That can feel scary as a parent, particularly when you know that something is going on, but can’t get to the heart of it, on your own or even through therapy. You can always come in on your own as a parent to get some additional guidance in parent coaching on how to continue providing a safe and nurturing environment for your child, and when they feel ready, more might come up to sort out together.
The important thing is that we take our kids seriously, whether they tell us in word or just in behavior. So, if you are asking the question, it might be a good moment to try it out, or at least talk through it with your child, depending on their age. You might just say, “I notice that we keep getting stuck, and I think it might be good for us to get some help on this. We are going to try talking to someone who specializes in kids and parents who get stuck to see if we can figure out what to do next.” Try it out a few times and see how it goes. Talk to the therapist openly about how you feel like it is going.
Therapy should be a supportive space to give your child the skills and confidence to navigate life’s challenges. If the issue feels like something your child—or your family—can’t resolve alone, it’s worth exploring. Therapy doesn’t mean something is “wrong”; it’s simply a way to help your child thrive.
Here at Roots in College Station, we have a really compassionate group of therapists that specialize in parent coaching, CBT, sand tray, and play therapy. Our Care Coordinator will help get you placed with a clinician that suits your unique needs, and it is pretty common that you as the parent come in first to talk through what has brought you to therapy for your child. They will help you sort out a direction that fits best for you and for your family. Typically, therapy with kids is a shorter-term process, and you should anticipate a clear direction within a couple of sessions with your clinician. Feel free to reach out and talk with our Care Coordinator if you would like to know more!