“Should I be involved in my child’s therapy sessions?”
Entering a clinic or therapy space can be a daunting experience but it is important to remember that the role of the parent in their child’s therapy sessions is invaluable. Research shows that parent involvement and active participation is one of the most effective ways to ensure your child achieves their goals.
How do you assist your child to reach their goals?
Your role in your child’s therapy journey extends beyond the clinic or therapy space. By being actively involved, you can support their progress by reinforcing skills at home, communicating openly with the therapist, and celebrating small achievements along the way. Every child learns differently, and your insights into their strengths, challenges, and motivations will help tailor therapy to their unique needs.
Working collaboratively with your therapist ensures that strategies are practical, achievable, and embedded into daily routines, making skill development a natural and meaningful part of your child’s life. Here’s how you can help!
Expert knowledge
While the therapist may be the expert in the therapy process, YOU are the expert in your child. You know information about your child that is valuable to your therapist and should feel comfortable expressing this information.
Goal setting
As you are the person who knows your child best you are best placed to identify the areas that they need assistance in. While you may not have the words to express what your child need helps with, it is our therapist’s job to help you to find the words. The therapist works with your family to address the growth areas that are important for your family.
Larger or long-term goals may be broken down into smaller more specific short-term goals that work as stepping stones to reach the larger goal. If you are confused about how short-term goals work towards longer term ones, ask your therapist to explain this. Goal setting is an important and ever evolving part of the therapy process as it ensures all involved are working towards what is important to you and your child.
Home therapist
When learning any skill, practice makes perfect. It is the same for your child as they work towards reaching their goals. As therapists we may only have an hour a week to work with your child to help them practice the skills they are learning. As a parent, you have daily opportunities to practice these skills functionally within your child’s everyday life, and this daily, meaningful practice will make the greatest change.
While some of this practice may be outside of your usual routine work with your therapist to find ways that you can integrate home practice into your daily routines. For example, if a goal is for your child to dress themselves independently perhaps you will practice with pyjamas at night first rather than the school uniform during the busy school morning routine.
Learner
Therapy sessions are not designed to only build your child’s skills but also your own. Your therapist will work with you to build your capacity to support your child to reach their goals at home and in the community. This is called parent coaching, and this is just as important as building your child skills.
If you have any questions on your role as a parent in your child’s therapy sessions, feel free to contact us at hello@superyou.org.au!