Going to a Therapist

What Is Therapy?

Lots of kids have problems that affect how they feel, think, or act. Therapy is a way to get help with these problems. If you go to therapy, you'll meet with a therapist to talk and learn. Therapy helps kids learn to cope better, communicate better, and do better.

If you're dealing with a problem, your parent or doctor might suggest you go to a therapist. Or it might be your idea. You might be the one to ask your parent to take you to a therapist.

What Problems Do Therapists Help With?

Therapists are trained to help kids with all kinds of problems. They help kids going through tough times like:

family problems
school problems
bullying
health problems

They help kids with feelings like:

sadness
anger
grief

They help kids with conditions like:

disruptive behavior disorders
trauma-related disorders

Why Do Kids Need Therapy?

Kids need therapy when they have problems they can't cope with alone. Therapy helps them talk about their feelings and learn new skills. It helps them work out their problems. As this happens, kids start to try new skills and do better.

How Does Therapy Work?

In therapy, kids learn by talking and doing. Therapists do activities with kids that teach skills. Kids learn to use these skills to solve problems. A therapist gives praise and support as kids learn. This helps kids do their best and feel proud of the work they are doing.

What Happens in Therapy?

At first, your therapist will talk with you and your parent. Therapists ask questions and listen. This helps them learn more about you. The therapist will tell you how they can help.

When the therapist knows you better, the two of you might:

Talk. Talking is a healthy way to express feelings. Kids are more ready to learn when someone listens to how they feel.
Play and draw. Therapists use games that teach things like taking your time on schoolwork or other tasks. Some games teach kids how to try again instead of giving up. Drawing can teach about feelings.
Do activities. Therapists might teach lessons about feelings, coping skills, or facing fears. Activities help make these lessons more fun.
Practice new skills. A therapist might teach you skills like mindfulness and calm breathing. These take practice. Therapists help you practice what you're learning.
Solve problems. Your therapist will ask about how problems affect you at home and at school. They will talk with you about how to solve these problems.

How Long Do Kids Do Therapy?

How long therapy lasts depends on your problem and what you need. Most of the time, a therapist will want to meet with you once a week for a few months.

How Can I Help Myself?

If you're going to a therapist, here are some ways to help yourself too:

Be ready to grow. Tell yourself "I can" instead of "I can't." This helps you do your best.
Ask your family for help when you need it. Share how you feel. This helps you feel close.
Do things you are good at and enjoy. This gives you confidence.
Know your good qualities. Maybe you are funny, creative, helpful, or kind. Use at least one of these every day. This helps you be your best self.
Find time to play and have fun. Being active every day helps you feel happier and ready to learn.

Do you ever wish you could change something about your body? Do you wish you were taller? Or smaller? Do you wish you had a different shape? More muscles? Or more curves? Do you wish you looked older?

Kids' bodies change as they go through puberty. But puberty doesn't happen at the same time for every kid. Some kids develop early. They may feel awkward at first. They might feel proud too. Other kids develop much later. They may wish they would hurry up and grow. They feel excited to become an older kid.

But there's no way to rush it along. A young girl won't grow breasts until her body is going through puberty. And a young boy won't develop big muscles like teen guys and adult men have. Not even if he lifts weights. It's hard to be patient.

As your body changes, the way you feel about it might change too.

What Things Can Help?

If you want to feel better about your body, here are some tips:

Don't expect your body to be perfect. No body is. It's good to accept and like the body you have. It's all yours, so show it some kindness.
Think of things you like about your looks. Do you have long legs? Broad shoulders? A great smile? A friendly face? Try to see the good things others see when they look at you.
Think of things your body can do. Are you a fast runner? Are you strong? Can you dribble ball? Ride a bike or a skateboard? Kick a ball down the field? Hike up a hill? Swim a lap? Do a cartwheel? Balance in tree pose? Take a moment to be glad for what your body can do.
Eat good foods. Feed your body healthy foods. Eating a healthy diet helps you look and feel your best. It gives you energy and keeps your body working well.
Get to bed on time. Your body needs plenty of sleep to look good and stay healthy. Sleep gives you the recharge you need to learn and play all day.
Be active every day. When you move your body, you exercise your muscles. When you exercise a muscle, it gets stronger. With strong muscles, your body healthy. You can be active by playing, dancing, doing a sport, or even cleaning your room.
Keep your body clean and groomed. Take a shower or bath. Wash your hair and face. Brush your teeth. Wear clean clothes. Find your style. Stand up tall and proud. Take a good look at fresh clean you. Let yourself feel happy with how you look.
Keep to a healthy weight. Being a healthy weight is good for you. And it helps you feel good about your body. But don't try to diet on your own. It's not safe or healthy for kids to do that. Always talk to your parent and doctor. When you have a checkup, your doctor can let you know if your weight is healthy. If your weight could be healthier, your doctor can suggest things you can do. Eating right and getting more activity helps a lot.
Talk to a parent. If you're having trouble feeling better about your body, tell a parent how you feel. Talk about ways you can feel happier with your body.