7 Things Your Child's Therapist Wants You to Know

As a therapist specializing in anxiety treatment for kids and teens at La Jolla Therapy Center, I’ve had the privilege of working with countless families. Throughout this journey, I’ve noticed that parents often have common questions and concerns about the therapy process. To help navigate this, here are seven essential things I want every parent to know about therapy for children and teens.

1. We Are Always on the Same Team

When a child starts therapy, it can feel like an unfamiliar territory for parents. But here’s the most important thing to remember: we are partners in this process. At La Jolla Therapy Center, we see ourselves as a supportive extension of your parenting journey, not a replacement. Our goal is to work together to ensure that your child gets the help they need to overcome challenges. I collaborate with you, keeping you informed every step of the way. When we make decisions or recommendations, they are designed to align with what’s best for your child and your family as a whole.

2. Your Child's Needs Always Come First

Every child is unique, and their therapy journey should reflect that. The approach we take in therapy is designed with your child’s specific needs in mind, from their emotional state to their individual temperament and developmental stage. When we design a treatment plan, we prioritize your child’s voice, preferences, and experiences. Our primary focus is to create a space where your child feels heard, supported, and safe enough to make progress in managing anxiety. At every stage, their well-being is at the center of the therapy process.

3. We Value Having You in the Therapy Room

As a parent, you might feel uncertain about your role in the therapy room. Am I supposed to be silent and let the therapist work with my child alone? Actually, your involvement is encouraged! We value having parents actively participate in therapy when appropriate, because your insights are crucial in understanding your child’s behavior and challenges. Whether it's through family therapy sessions or by giving updates on how your child is doing outside of therapy, your perspective helps us adjust the treatment plan as needed. Additionally, when you’re involved in the process, it helps reinforce the tools your child is learning and makes the changes stick.

4. We Understand How Hard Parenting Can Be—Because We Are Parents Too!

It’s easy to feel isolated when your child is struggling with anxiety. Parenting through these challenges can feel overwhelming and confusing at times. I want to reassure you: I get it. As a parent myself, I understand how difficult it can be to support a child who is struggling emotionally. It’s not always clear how to help, and sometimes it can feel like there’s no right answer. But I’m here to offer support and guidance. We are here to help you navigate these struggles, providing not only therapy for your child but also support for you as a parent. Therapy can give you new insights and coping tools for yourself as you learn how to help your child manage anxiety.

5. You Can Really Move Treatment Forward by Helping Your Child Practice Skills Outside the Therapy Room

One of the most powerful ways parents can help their child make real progress is by encouraging them to practice the skills they learn in therapy outside the therapy room. This doesn’t have to be a formal or complicated process—sometimes it’s as simple as talking about what they learned or offering a reminder to use a coping strategy when they’re feeling anxious. Practicing emotion identification, thought challenging, and relaxation techniques at home, at school, or in everyday situations helps your child integrate those skills into their life. When kids and teens see that their coping tools work in the real world, it builds confidence and reinforces the therapeutic process. The more they practice, the stronger the skills become.

6. We Use Toys & Games to Build Rapport and Teach Skills—It’s Not Just About Fun!

It might surprise you to learn that therapists often use toys, games, and creative activities in therapy. But rest assured, it's not just about fun and games—it’s all part of the therapeutic process. For younger children, toys are a great way to build rapport and create a sense of safety and comfort. For older kids and teens, games like board games or card games are used as tools to teach important skills like problem-solving, coping with frustration, or managing emotions. These activities are more than just distractions—they are therapeutic tools that allow kids to practice skills in a low-pressure, engaging way. For example, a simple card game might be used to teach impulse control or working through disappointment when they don’t win. Therapy doesn't always look like talking—it can be interactive and playful, which is a key part of keeping kids engaged in the process.

7. Therapy Is a Marathon, Not a Sprint

It's important to understand that progress in therapy takes time. While parents often want immediate results, anxiety treatment is not a quick fix—it’s a process. Therapy is a marathon, not a sprint, and sometimes there will be setbacks along the way. But even setbacks provide valuable learning opportunities. It’s normal for progress to come in small, incremental steps. The key is consistency. As your child practices skills and learns to manage anxiety, the changes will build up over time, leading to long-term improvements. The most important thing is to stay committed to the process, support your child through their ups and downs, and trust that with time and effort, therapy will pay off.

In Conclusion

Parenting a child with anxiety can be overwhelming, but you’re not alone in this. At La Jolla Therapy Center, we see therapy as a collaborative effort between therapist, child, and parents. The more informed and involved you are in the therapy process, the more effective treatment will be. By understanding these seven key points, you can help make the journey smoother and more successful for your child. Together, we’ll help them build the skills they need to manage anxiety and lead a fulfilling life.

If you're in the San Diego or La Jolla area and would like more information about how we can help your child, please reach out. Let’s work together to support your child's emotional well-being!

Our San Diego, California based counseling practice specializes in helping teens and adults who struggle with anxiety. Through counseling, we help kids and young adults overcome the negative thought cycles, the constant comparison game, and worst-case scenarios that accompany the anxious brain. Additionally, we offer other mental health services, primarily for perfectionists, overachievers or others who don’t feel like they 100% fit in. More specifically we offer treatment for anxiety/OCD, and depression at La Jolla Therapy Center. If you don’t live around San Diego or the commute makes in-person therapy impossible, all of our services are available via online therapy to anyone physically located in California. Therefore, we work with clients from Sacramento to Palo Alto or even Mountain View. You and your family deserve to finally feel less overwhelmed, so let’s get started!