Why Kids Deserve Therapy Too!
Why Kids Deserve Therapy Too!
Hi everyone! Welcome back to another Undergrad Unfiltered post! I am super happy to be back and writing after I just underwent a surgery this past week! Recovery has been pretty boring, so I am ready to write! This week’s episode is essentially a myth buster about kids in therapy and why they need it! Let’s jump right in.
When people hear that a child is in therapy, they likely think about extreme scenarios: situations like family divorces or crises. Truthfully, though it may be a hot take, therapy for kids is usually about their everyday struggles, like learning how to manage their emotions, coping with challenges, or dealing with stressors. Equally to adults, kids deserve safe spaces to deal with these feelings too, and therapy can be a great environment for just that!
When it comes to taking children to therapy, a lot of biases or myths may get in the way, such as beliefs that therapy is unnecessary or too difficult for children to really understand. In reality, these beliefs often prevent both children and family to gain support that they may need: children are not fragile and may actually be the ones needing therapy the most! Here are the three most common myths I’ve heard about children in therapy:
1. Kids are too young to benefit from therapy
This is likely the most common misconception that I will mention, and in many ways it is warranted given that therapy is not exactly cheap in most scenarios. However, kids are typically more creative than adults when it comes to implementing therapeutic approaches, thus increasing the chances of the effectiveness of therapy. Kids are naturally so trusting and can express SO much valuable details to therir therapist simply by playing during sessions through play therapy. This is why kids are innately ready for therapy: because they don’t have as many walls built up for self-protection as adults do, thus making it not only easier for the child to open up but for the therapist to develop effective practices.
2. Kids will grow out of what they’re feeling, so therapy is unnecessary
Adults often believe that children are resilient and thus, will be fine, but resiliency does not equal invincibility. Instead of children outgrowing issues like anxiety, depression, or trauma, those factors often grow WITH them and stay with them for years to come. Untreated childhood mental health problems or illnesses often carry into adulthood in relationships, friendships, and self-esteem. This is why early intervention is beyond crucial, as teaching kids how to cope early can prevent so much struggle later. Why not help kids build healthy patterns from the start instead of waiting until issues are so serious they’re almost impossible to solve?
3. Therapy means something is inherently wrong with a child
Out of all three myths, this one is saved for last because it’s 100% the most damaging. Stigma around therapy is still so real (though its gotten better in recent years), but people still believe that needing or wanting help signals weakness. Parents may worry that a child receiving therapy recflects poorly on their child or family, making this stigma all the more alive when it comes to kids in therapy. However, therapy is not about fixing a broken child and is all about supporting a child through challenges and equipping them with tools they need for the future. Therapy helps kids develop a healthy self-awareness that they wouldn’t have without it.
Closing Thoughts:
Kids need and deserve patience, support, and access to care, and stigmas of children in therapy actively get in the way of this. If we can normalize therapy for kids the way we’ve normalized it for adults, we can raise future generations that are more emotionally intelligent, compassionate, and overall better equipped to walk through life. For me, this issue is personal, because I want to be the kind of practicioner who makes therapy feel safe, normal, and accessible for children. Every child deserves to feel seen, safe, and heard!
Love your favorite undergrad,
Apama <3
