Should I take my child to therapy in the Summer?

You’ve been thinking about therapy for your child, but now Summer Break is here and you’re wondering if it’s the right time.  When children face challenges with peers, teachers, academics, and transitions, Summer Break can be a wonderful break from the chaos!  We totally understand the tendency to want to hold off on therapy until the school year starts again.  Here are five reasons why we think Summer is a great time to consider starting therapy:

1. Summer means lighter schedules and more free time

Kids that tend to feel anxious can become more anxious when they’re over scheduled.  Kids that struggle with transitions have more meltdowns with a jam-packed schedule.  With school out of session and fewer extra-curricular activities, kids have more time in the summer.  Not only does this make it easier to find time to take them to therapy, but it means they will be more engaged and make greater therapeutic gains.  

2. Get ready to start the next school year off right 

Kids often make quick progress in therapy.  If they have three solid months of weekly therapy (with maybe a few weeks off for family vacations), they are set to start the school year off right.  If your child is struggling with bullying or making friends, your child’s therapist can help them build skills to enter next year confident instead of anxious.  If you child hates school and never wants to go back, imagine hitting September with hope and excitement instead of dread and angst!    We love working with kids during the Summer to prepare them for a fresh start next school year.  

3. Beat the Fall rush  

Ask anybody that works with kids and you will learn that Fall is a time of turmoil.  Caseloads for child therapists go up and openings are hard to come by.  If you wait for problems to arise in September, you may struggle to find a therapist that can start with your child right away.  Starting in the Summer when many families stop attending means you will secure yourself a therapist who can stick with you through the school year.  Maybe you won’t need to continue in the Fall, but if you do, you won’t be scrambling to find a therapist with an opening.  

4. Be part of the therapy outside of the therapy room 

Child therapy doesn’t just happen in the therapy office.  Kids that make the most progress are those with engaged parents ready to apply some of the skills learned at home.  Parents are often so busy during the school year that it can be hard to work on another thing at home.  You have sports, homework, early darkness, and back to school nights to contend with in the Fall.  During the summer, most families spend a bit more time together, whether at home or on vacation.  This time presents a great opportunity for you to help your child deepen the skills they develop in therapy.  

5. The best time to face a challenge is now

If you know your child is having a problem now, the best time to start to tackle that problem is today.  Imagine if your child had a cancer diagnosis, but you thought you’d give them the summer off before starting treatment.  Impossible!  Of course, this isn’t cancer and the experience will be far less scary for you and your child.  However, mental health and social challenges that go untreated don’t usually just “go away.”  As a parent, we know you can tell when your child needs more than the services available at school.  We recommend you get help for your child right away – your child will experience relief sooner and will avoid a small problem growing into a larger one.  

I’m ready to start.  What’s next?  

If you’re ready to find a Child Therapist for your child, reach out to us today.  We’ll discuss your child’s needs and support you through the process.  We offer in-office therapy in Morris County and Sussex County, New Jersey and convenient telehealth therapy for kids throughout the state of New Jersey.  Call us today for a free 15 minute phone consultation. To learn more about Child Therapy and how Skylands Wellness can help, click here.