You might be thinking:

• “How can I support my child’s therapy at home?”
• “Should I be asking my child about their therapy?”
• “What if my child does not want to talk?”
• “Am I supposed to be doing anything differently?”

The good news is that you do not need to become a therapist to support your child’s therapy. In fact, your relationship with them, the everyday moments, the quiet connection, the way you simply show up is one of the most powerful supports they can have.

Here are some gentle, practical ways you can help from home.

Your child does not need you to have all the answers — they just need to know you are there. Sometimes, the most therapeutic thing you can offer is simply your calm presence.

Let them know:

“You do not have to talk about anything unless you want to. I am here for you either way.”

If they do want to talk, try to listen, without jumping to solutions or advice, and with the intention of understanding. Often, just being heard is enough.

Children and young people process things in their own time. Some might come home full of thoughts after a session. Others may not want to talk at all.

It is okay to check in gently, for example:

“How was your time with [therapist’s name] today?”
But if they say “fine” or “I do not want to talk about it,” that is okay too.

Sometimes, if your child tells you what they are doing in their sessions, it may seem that they are not ‘opening up’ and it can be tempting to encourage them to talk to their therapist about something you feel is important.  However, it is important to trust that the process is working; your child will be communicating and processing their experiences whether they talk or use creative ways to do this.

Sometimes therapy brings up emotions, not just for the young person but for the family around them. You might feel unsure, emotional, or even a little triggered by things they share.

That is completely normal.

If anything comes up that feels hard to manage, consider speaking to the therapist. Many services, including Inspire Wellbeing Services, are happy to involve parents or carers in a way that supports the whole family.  If you need to talk to your child’s therapist, then your child needs to know that the therapist will not be sharing the content of their sessions with you.  You could explain to your child that you are thinking a lot about them, that you want to try and get some more ideas on how to help them, and this is why you would like to contact their therapist.

You do not need to overhaul your routines, but small things can make a big difference:

• Try to keep mornings and bedtimes as calm and consistent as possible.
• Build in regular quiet time or screen-free time where your child can relax and process.
• Let them know what is coming up in the week, especially anything out of routine.
• Build in one-to-one uninterrupted time together and try to make this a consistent part of your day. Just 10-15 minutes a day of your undivided attention on an activity of your child’s choice makes a difference.

When life feels emotionally wobbly, having predictable things at home helps children feel safe.

Not every child wants to talk about feelings — and that is okay. You can support their wellbeing with quiet activities that help them express themselves or relax, such as:

• Drawing, painting, or craft
• Journaling (or “writing it out” with no pressure to share)
• Listening to music together
• Spending time outdoors
• Sensory play (especially helpful for younger children)

These activities often create the space where conversations naturally start — or give your child the calm they need to process emotions without words.

Supporting a child through therapy can bring up a lot of emotions, worry, guilt, hope, even uncertainty about whether you’re doing it “right”. You are not alone in feeling this.

If you are ever unsure, you can:

• Reach out to us
• Ask the therapist if there are any ways you can support the process
• Access parenting support services if you feel you would benefit from space to reflect yourself

Therapy is not just for the child, it is a support process that involves everyone around them, including you.

Your child’s therapy is just one part of the bigger picture and your relationship with them is at the heart of it all.

You do not need to have all the answers. You do not need to be perfect.

Just by being there, listening, and offering a calm and caring space, you are already doing something incredibly valuable to support your child’s therapy at home.

And if you ever feel unsure, ask. We are here to support you too.