For anyone who attends therapy sessions, getting the most out of the work involves not only identifying some areas of life that require making some changes, but also actively working to enact those changes. If you've been concerned about your child for any reason and have had him or her attending sessions with a children's therapy specialist, you need to be prepared for some changes in the child's life. It's important, as a parent, for you to foster these changes. Doing so might sometimes be difficult, and you won't always understand what the therapist is suggesting. However, you need to accept that the therapist has your child's best interests at heart. Here are some changes that may be part of your child's life.
More Independence
Therapists can often tell when a child lacks independence in his or her life. You might not like to admit it, but your overbearing nature may be hindering your child's ability to think or act in an independent manner. If your child's therapist sessions have revealed a need for more independence, you're apt to see some changes in your child. For example, he or she might not tell you everything that you're used to hearing. It's important in this situation to give your child his or her space, rather than try to quell this independence.
An Active Social Life
Some children are naturally introverted, and while there can be benefits to this way of being, your child's therapist may feel that the child's severely introverted nature could be detrimental. In this case, the therapist may implore your child to lead more of an active social life, and it's ideal if you can play a supportive role. This could include happily driving your child to friends' houses or making arrangements to pick him or her up after staying late at school to take part in sports or a school club.
Ability To Share Opinions
Some parents are outspoken with their opinions, but this can lead to a child feeling as though he or she can't have a say. It's possible that this topic has come up in your child's therapy sessions, and the therapist may have encouraged your child to speak out a little more. This doesn't mean that he or she needs to be rude, but rather simply state what is on his or her mind. Be mindful of this change and try to encourage it. This means letting your child speak even if you don't agree with it, and not trying to overrule his or her opinions.
