The Role of Parents in Child Anxiety Treatment
At Kairos Wellness Collective, we consider the role of parents in child therapy to be crucial, and a significant predictor of positive outcome. Primary caregivers have a significant influence on their child's emotional, social, and cognitive development.
Here are some ways that parents can support their child in therapy at Kairos.
1. Collaborate with the Therapist: Parents should collaborate with the therapist to understand their child's diagnosis, treatment plan, and progress. They should provide the therapist with information about their child's behavior, emotions, and relationships to help the therapist develop an effective treatment plan.
Attend the Parent ERP training: In the case of OCD treatment, parental understanding is even more critical. Our parent coordinator and therapist, Lacey Pacheco, runs monthly training sessions to help parents understand the direction and content of OCD treatment. We consider these trainings to be a mandatory part of a child receiving OCD support at our center, as therapist interventions have limited effectiveness if parents are enabling unhealthy patterns.
Attend Sessions: When indicated by the therapist, parents should attend therapy sessions with their child to support them and learn how to reinforce therapeutic interventions at home. They can also learn effective parenting strategies to help their child manage their emotions, behaviors, and relationships.
Model Positive Behaviors: Parents should model positive behaviors such as open communication, problem-solving, and healthy coping mechanisms to help their child develop these skills. They can also provide a safe and supportive environment for their child to express their feelings and needs. In the case of OCD and Anxiety treatment, parents should consider how they cope with stress and what their children are learning in terms of maladaptive strategies.
Provide Consistency and Support: Parents should provide consistency and support for their child by establishing routines, setting clear boundaries and expectations, and providing emotional support. This can help the child feel safe and secure, which is essential for their emotional and social development.
Practice Self-Care: Parents should also practice self-care to manage their own stress and emotions, which can affect their ability to support their child. They can seek support from a therapist or support group, practice mindfulness or relaxation techniques, or engage in activities that promote their well-being. Being a steady presence in the child’s life can provide a sense of safety during the rockier portions of a client’s treatment – as sometimes anxiety and OCD treatment can exacerbate stressors before a child actually recovers.
Overall, parents play a critical role in their child's therapy by providing support, collaborating with the therapist, modeling positive behaviors, and providing a safe and supportive environment. By working together, parents and therapists can help their child develop the skills they need to manage their emotions, behaviors, and relationships and achieve their full potential.
To learn more about our ERP family sessions and how we support families throughout child therapy, please contact Kairos Wellness Collective today.
