Wh
en a child begins mental health therapy, family involvement is crucial to the process. However, it is not always clear how a parent or caregiver should be involved and supportive of their child's journey. To provide guidance to family members, the Office of Children's Mental Health has created resources to explain the role parents and caregivers can take to support their child in therapy. These publications have been created in partnership with parents and mental health professionals.
Therapy teaches skills to handle the challenges that come with life
Your child may begin mental health services because they feel anxiety, anger, mood swings, sadness, difficulty concentrating, emotional outbursts, or something else that interrupts their daily life. No matter the initial reason for starting, therapy is focused on building new skills to handle stress when times get tough.
Therapy requires connection
For therapy to be effective, your child needs to feel safe to open up. This can take time, just like the start of any new relationship.
Every therapist is different, and the first one you meet may not be right for your family. If the relationship isn’t feeling good with your child’s current therapist, ask if there is another professional who can support them.
Communication is key
As a parent or caregiver, it’s essential to keep communication open between you and your child’s therapist. You know your child best, so when you notice changes in your child’s mood or behaviors, that is important information to share.
Download & Share!
This valuable resource is available in multiple languages to help bridge the gap for families of all backgrounds.
If you are interested in more information, explore our robust resource page What To Do While You Wait.
If you have difficulty accessing our materials, or using our website, please let us know by emailing OCMH@wi.gov. We take digital accessibility seriously and welcome the opportunity to remove any barriers in accessing content.