“A therapist’s job isn’t ever to fix the problem—it’s to empower their client to know they already have all the tools inside of them to tackle the situation at hand, and it’s our job to teach them how to do it,” she adds.
do your research! • Ask questions: Figure out the heart behind your child’s actions by asking “Why?”
vulnerability at home by sharing things like ‘Mom had a bad day, and this is what I did to feel better.’” Don’t make it a big deal, and don’t be afraid to ask about the hard things. If you have littles, explain that just like how they go to the doctor for their physical health, they are going to see a cool new friend with skills to take care of their mental health. (Except it’s more fun because they play games!)
• Don’t jump to conclusions • Create a space to process
• Expand therapy’s safe space to the home • If teens use clinical terms like “trauma,” “triggered,” or “anxiety,” ask them why they are using that language, what those things mean to them, and what that looks like? • Get specific. While the intention of therapy is to help your child, it is also to help equip you to parent well. “So much of therapy with kids involves equipping parents with tools and resources to help their children thrive,” explains Kennedy.
SOCIAL MEDIA
There are hundreds of studies that point to the fact that despite living in the most connected age ever, people are lonelier than ever. Add puberty to the mix, and it gets a whole lot worse. “Social media often gives you a false sense of connection,” Kennedy warns. “It tears away the vital benefits of in-person connection.” Even if you don’t allow your child to use social media, they have group chats with their friends—they know when they’re not invited to things. The key thing to remember is that what we have access to can foster mental health or be detrimental to it. The old adage is true: garbage in, garbage out.
HOW LONG SHOULD THERAPY LAST?
Remember, therapy doesn’t have to last forever. “My goal as a clinician is for my clients to have the right tools to help navigate complex feelings. We work toward their goals so they can thrive without therapy. When difficult situations arise, they can come back to therapy for additional support,” Kennedy states. Equipping your kids with the opportunity to go to therapy now is like putting tools in their toolbox so that they’ll be prepared when they need them down the road.
HOW TO TALK ABOUT THERAPY
Many teachers are leading the way in teaching kids how to talk about emotions. Even still, it can be intimidating to be vulnerable, share your feelings, and admit you need help. So normalize it in your home. Personally, I felt safe to go to counseling because my dad went and talked about it. “Create space for vulnerability and practice healthy transparency,” Kennedy encourages. “If you go to therapy, open up and share how it’s helped you. Additionally, you can practice
A PARENT’S ROLE IN APPROACHING THERAPY
TOOLS & RESOURCES:
Every situation is subjective, so the appropriate involvement for you depends on the situation and age of your child. Nevertheless, there are several things you can
• Watch Toy Story 5 , Inside Out , & Inside Out 2 • Read The Anxious Generation , The Grand Hotel of Feelings , Raising Worry-Free Girls , & Raising Emotionally Strong Boys
do to complement therapy at home: • Read books: Seek out resources and
FIND YOUR FUN AT
CLASSES FOR KIDS & ADULTS
CAMPS WINTER, SPRING & SUMMER STEP ON STAGE FOR THE FIRST TIME HONE YOUR SKILLS WITH US
YOUTH CLASSES GRADES 2-12 Acting | Theatre Dance
ADULT CLASSES Acting | Theatre Dance Tap | Improv
THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE! WWW.REDMOUNTAINTHEATRE.ORG
BIRMINGHAMPARENT.COM | SEPTEMBER 2026 13
Made with FlippingBook Digital Proposal Creator