When a child is receiving emotional support, it’s natural that parents and carers often want to know:

“How can I help?”

“Is there anything I should be doing differently?”

“Am I meant to be part of this?” 

“Is my child ‘opening up’ in their therapy sessions?” 

“Why does it seem that my child is struggling more after their therapy sessions?” 

At Inspire Wellbeing Services, our data shows that therapy works best when the important adults in a young person’s life feel in the loop, supported, and included in the process rather than left outside of it. That is why we offer parental review sessions in child therapy.

In this blog, we will explain what these sessions are, why they are important, and how they can help both you and your child feel more connected and involved during the therapy journey. 

A parental review session is a one-to-one conversation between you (the parent(s)/carer(s)) and your child’s therapist. These sessions usually take place: 

• after a few sessions with your child have taken place, 

• at regular intervals during ongoing support and;

• whenever there is a natural time to pause and think about how things are going. 

It is a space for you to ask questions, share your thoughts, and hear how things are going — all in a space that feels safe, respectful, and supportive. 

Therapy and Support for a child or young person is most effective when it also supports their parents/carers, as their emotional wellbeing is deeply connected to the relationships and environments around them.  It also shows your child that you value their therapy and that you want to support their emotional wellbeing.

Here is why we include parent review sessions in child therapy support:

You’re a key part of your child’s support system

You know your child better than anyone. Your insight helps us better understand what is going on outside of sessions — at home, at school, in day-to-day life. For example, sometimes therapy provokes difficult emotions for your child which can manifest in some tricky behaviours at home and it can seem like things are getting worse! Sharing this information with your therapist will help strengthen your child’s support system, thinking about how to support you and your child at these times and understanding that this is part of the process.  Therapy is not easy whether you are an adult or a child!

These observations can shape how we approach therapy and help us make sure the support really helps.  

Therapy is not a “fix” — it is a process of shared support

Sometimes families worry that therapy means a child has to “change” or assume that the therapist will “fix things.” But therapy is not something done to a child — it is something that happens with them. And often, small shifts in how the adults around them respond can be just as powerful as what happens in the therapy room. 

You deserve support too

Caring for a child who is struggling can be emotionally demanding. Parental review sessions give you space to reflect, share your thoughts and ask questions without judgement. You are not expected to have all the answers, but you should not have to feel alone, either. 

Sometimes parents/carers believe the way to ‘open up’ in sessions is by talking, so they have questions or wonder about the value of creative therapies which don’t always focus on talking.   Because of this, they often ask questions about creative therapies such as “if my child is not talking, how do I know if they are actually benefitting from the sessions?”. There are many ways children can express and process their thoughts and feelings. Art, dance and, play, for example, are all powerful ways to explore what is going on and, for some children, are the most natural and effective way to work through their experiences. 

Confidentiality is always respected in our work. Children and young people need to feel safe in therapy — and part of that means knowing their personal thoughts will not be repeated without consent. 

In a review session, we will not share details about what has happened in therapy, unless your child has agreed to us doing so, or if it is important for their safety or wellbeing. Instead, we focus on: 

• Themes or patterns that are emerging, 

• Strategies that might help at home or school, 

• What’s feeling better — and what’s still hard, 

• How we can work together to keep things moving in a positive direction. 

We always aim to balance privacy with partnership. 

That is completely normal. Many parents/carers worry they will be judged for “getting it wrong.”. Please know that our parent review sessions in child therapy support are not about blaming or correcting. They are about collaboration, compassion, and connection. 

We are here to walk alongside you — not ahead of you, and definitely not against you. 

Parental review sessions in child therapy are an important part of how we work at Inspire Wellbeing Services. They give you the chance to: 

• Understand what is happening in therapy (in an appropriate, respectful and confidential way), 

• Feel more confident in supporting your child at home, 

• Reflect on how things are going and ask any questions, 

• Be an active, valued part of your child’s journey. 

We are here not just for your child, but for you too — because relationships are where healing happens.