If you are reading this, it may be because your child is about to receive wellbeing support from us or an organisation like us and you are wondering how best to talk to your child about therapy.

As a parent or carer, you might be wondering: 

How do I explain this to my child? What should I say? Will they be worried? How can I help them feel okay about it? 

This short guide is here to help you feel confident and supported in how to talk to your child about therapy. It also aims to answer some of the questions your child might have — even if they do not ask them out loud. 

Children often pick up on our tone before our words, so it helps to speak calmly, kindly, and openly. 

You might say: 

There is a place in Chelmsford called Inspire Wellbeing Services. There, a team of people helps children and young people with things like how to understand and cope with their feelings, worries and difficult thoughts.  These people are called therapists.

We have been thinking about you a lot, and thought that a therapist might be able to help you.  You will not have to talk if it is hard to find the words. There are different ways to share how you might be feeling, for example drawing, music and play.

This is not because you are in trouble. You have not done anything wrong.  It is about having a safe place to share how you might be feeling through playing, being creative or talking.  

Why have you done this?

We have noticed you have had a lot on your mind, and we care about how you are feeling. Therefore, we want to make sure you have the right support, not just at home and school, but also from people who are trained to understand how it is for you. They will take what you say seriously so they can help. 

Am I going to have to talk about everything?

You will not be rushed or made to talk about anything you do not want to, instead, you can choose how you would like to share. For instance, some people do not talk much, but use things like drawing, movement, play and stories to help communicate.  It is more about having your own, safe space to share what might be bothering you.   

Are they going to tell everyone what I talk about?

No — the people from Inspire Wellbeing Services work in a really respectful and private way. They will only share something if they are really worried someone is not safe — and even then, they would talk to us about it first if they can.

What if I don’t want to do it?

That is okay. We just wanted you to have a space for support, but no one is going to force anything. Your feelings about it matter. 

Support begins with a referral, your child may want to be included in this, and we would encourage that.  Don’t worry, if there is something you want to tell us that you don’t want to put on the referral, you can do this during the initial telephone conversation.

Afterwards, we will think about what is going on and what kind of support might help. As a result, this sometimes leads to one-to-one work with the child or young person, often including parent/carer reviews. Otherwise, we might suggest family work, where the child/young person comes with their parents/carers and they work through issues together. Other times, support may be directly with parents/carers, which can be an effective option if the child/ young person does not engage with therapy. Parent/carer support can provide you with tools to support your child therapeutically. 

Your child might: 

• Meet with someone one-to-one for a few sessions: this might be in person at our office (Chelmsford), in person at school, or online. 

• Be allocated a therapist who will support them creatively through, art, drama or play.  The type of therapy they are offered will depend on their age and needs.  You can find overviews of the therapies we offer children and young people here. If there is a type of therapy they do/ do not want, you can always tell us on the referral or call. 

• Let them know you are proud of them for being open to support. You can tell them that it is brave to ask for help and shows their strength.  

• Remind them that everyone needs help sometimes — it is a normal and healthy part of life. 

• Check in gently after sessions, but do not pressure them to talk if they do not want to. 

• Be available to listen and open to understanding, rather than rushing to fix. Just being there is often enough. 

Referrals to wellbeing services aren’t about labels, diagnoses, or blame. They’re about understanding what’s going on for a child and offering the right support at the right time. The most helpful thing you can offer your child is your calm, steady presence and a reminder that they’re not alone. 

If you ever have any questions about how to talk to your child about therapy that aren’t answered here or questions about what to expect, you can speak to your therapist about this. This is one of the reasons why parental reviews are such an integral part of supporting a child or young person. 

We are here to support your child and you every step of the way.