Family matters: Why family needs to join child therapy
Parents know that if they have children with special needs, they should bring them to mental health sessions. They know that it could help their child overcome their struggles in life.
As a part of family matters, most parents would be willing to send their children to undergo treatments for their betterment. However, not every parent knows that it would be helpful if the whole family joins child therapy. For one, being involved as a whole could help everyone to be more inclined to help the child. We have listed seven reasons why all family members should join child therapy.
Why family should join child therapy
Family members living with a child with special needs have to join child therapy because they have to know what to do to help them.
Parents could ask questions
Young children do not know what to ask the therapists for things that are unclear to them. If parents join in on the session, they could voice out any concern.
Take down notes
Adults are more inclined to jot down notes on the best practices. This way, they have something to look back to when they suddenly forgot how to handle a certain situation.
Family is the most important
Parents should know that family is the most important aspect in the lives of young children. Many therapists believe that family should be the center of treatment across children with special needs' lifespan.
Mental health symptoms run in families
In the 1970s and 80s, evidence showed that mental health symptoms are genetic. After a few decades, molecular genetics further supports the claims at the DNA level. Now, researchers have increased interest in how stressors coming from the family trigger mental health symptoms.
They are responsible for the services
Psychoeducation is a term therapists use to define re-education, which is providing treatment to children and families. It is teaching how mental illness becomes embedded in close relationships among family members. Usually, parents are the ones who bring their children to appointments and organize fees. Treatment suffers if parents are not on board.
Need to allot a short amount of time
At a maximum, outpatient therapists see their clients for only one hour a week. Parents should note that the nature of the hours, not the amount determines if their child gets better. The strategies and techniques children learn during each session should be employed at home. It means that it requires substantial support from the caregiver, aka the family.
Parents or other family members may struggle with their mental health issues. They might have too little time for the child with special needs and face stressors as well. With the whole-family approach, everyone can benefit because they get the support that they need.
Whole family benefits
If everyone in the family attends the session, mental health issues that each one needs will be addressed. By joining child therapy, family members could help set the environment that could promote health and wellness for the child with special needs.
See also:
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