Community Spotlight: How to Talk to Your Child About Starting Therapy

Helping your child feel safe, seen, and supported from the very beginning

Starting therapy can be a meaningful and healing journey for your child—but talking to them about it can feel overwhelming, especially if they’re nervous, confused, or unsure what therapy is all about. Whether your child is dealing with big feelings, life transitions, self confidence struggles, or trauma, the way you introduce therapy matters. Here’s how to have a gentle, honest, and age-appropriate conversation that helps your child feel safe and empowered.

1. Start with Honesty and Simplicity

Children often pick up on more than we realize. It’s best to be honest, while keeping your explanation simple and developmentally/age appropriate. You might say:

1. For younger kids: “We’re going to meet someone whose job is to help kids with big feelings. They have fun things like toys and art, and you can talk or play however you want.”
2. For older kids or teens: “Therapy is a place where you can talk to someone who isn’t in the family—someone who is safe, really listens and helps you work through things that feel confusing or hard.”

There are some great books as well, such as When a Donut Goes to Therapy or When the Rabbit Listened. Books help create an extra layer of understanding and provides a barrier of safety if the conversation feels too vulnerable.

2. Let Them Know Therapy Is a Safe Place

Emphasize that therapy is a safe, special, non-judgmental space just for them. Explain that their therapist’s job is to help them feel better, understand their feelings, and learn tools that make life easier. Let them know:

“You get to be yourself. There are no right or wrong things to say. The therapist is here to help, not to fix or punish.”

3. Reassure Them That They’re Not in Trouble

Some kids worry that going to therapy means something is wrong with them or that they’ve done something bad. Reassure them:

“Going to therapy doesn’t mean anything is wrong with you. We all need support sometimes, and it’s brave to ask for help.”

4. Include Them in the Process

When appropriate, involve your child in small decisions—like helping choose a day or time for the session, or bringing a favorite toy, stuffy or drawing to share with their therapist. This gives them a sense of ownership and safety.

5. Normalize Therapy in Your Family Culture

If you’ve gone to therapy yourself, it can be incredibly powerful to share that (in a kid-friendly way). You might say:

“I talk to someone too when I need help sorting through things. Therapy helps me feel more calm and clear.”

If therapy becomes part of your family’s language of care, it feels less like something strange and more like something supportive—like going to the doctor or asking a teacher for help.

6. Be Patient with Their Reactions

Your child might feel curious, anxious, or even resistant—and that’s okay. You can say:

“It’s okay to feel unsure. You don’t have to like it right away. We’ll go together and take it one step at a time.”

Sometimes just knowing they’re not alone can help ease the fear of the unknown.

7. Follow Up After the First Session

After your child’s first therapy session, ask open-ended and gentle questions:

1. “What did you notice about the therapist?”
2. “Was anything fun or interesting?”
3. “Is there anything you’d like to ask or tell me about your time?”

Avoid pressuring them to share everything. Give them space, and trust the relationship with the therapist to develop over time.

Final Thoughts

Therapy is a powerful gift you’re giving your child—one that can foster resilience, self-understanding, and lifelong emotional tools. It also sets a strong foundation for the future when the first therapy relationship feels positive, allowing them to access help down the road.  By approaching the conversation with warmth, clarity, and respect, you’re already setting the tone for healing.

If you’re looking for family and child therapists who use play, art, and mindfulness to help children feel safe and supported, we’d love to help.

Learn more about our child therapy services at www.staymindfultherapy.com

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Welcome to Stay Mindful Therapy

At Stay Mindful Therapy, we offer compassionate, trauma-informed care for children, teens, adults, and families. Our team of experienced therapists brings a wide range of specialties—EMDR, somatic therapy, mindfulness, art and play therapy, and more—to support healing, growth, and emotional well-being.

Our Services Include:

1. Individual therapy for all ages
2. Trauma recovery and EMDR
3. Play and art therapy for kids
4. Support for anxiety, depression, and life transitions
5. Psychedelic integration and ketamine-assisted therapy
6. Parenting and family support
7. Mindfulness-based coaching

We’re here to meet you where you are with warmth, creativity, and care.

www.staymindfultherapy.com

Schedule a session or learn more about our team and services on our website.