How Parents Can Support Therapy Progress At Home

When your child is in therapy, you aren’t just on the sidelines; you’re part of the team. Your child’s therapist might meet with them once or twice a week, but you are there the rest of the time. 

You know your child better than anyone else, which makes you an invaluable partner in the therapeutic process. Children whose parents are involved in therapy make better progress. 

Read on for simple but powerful tips on how parents can support therapy progress at home.

Why parental involvement matters 

Therapy can be a powerful way to shape your child's life. However, your involvement is key, too. Research shows that parental involvement can significantly enhance therapy outcomes, including improvement in a child's symptoms and behaviors. By providing them with a supportive environment and an opportunity to practice their new skills, you play a positive role in the process.

Understand your child's therapy goals

To fully support your child, it’s important to understand their therapy goals. From the very beginning, establish an open line of communication with your child’s therapist and let them know you’re willing and able to participate in the therapeutic process. Don’t hesitate to ask questions. Doing so helps ensure you’re aligned and equipped to support your child outside of sessions.

Some helpful questions to ask include:

• What are the goals of my child’s therapy?
• How can I support their progress at home?
• What signs of progress should I be looking for?
  

By asking these types of questions, you’ll gain a clearer understanding of the goals and how to reinforce them in everyday life.

That said, therapists who work with older adolescents and teens may keep certain details confidential. Confidentiality practices vary based on your child’s age and local laws, and they exist to create a safe environment where teens feel comfortable opening up authentically. While you’ll still be informed about your child’s overall goals and progress, therapists may not be able to share everything discussed in session. Rest assured, if there’s a safety concern or emergency, they will inform you immediately.

The most effective support comes from collaboration. When parents and therapists work together with mutual trust and clear communication, children are better positioned to make meaningful, lasting progress.

Collaborate with your therapist as a team

Provide your child's therapist with regular check-ins regarding your child's behavior and their emotional state. Report any changes you observe (whether positive or negative). This information can help assess your child's progress and make necessary adjustments.

Another great way to stay involved is by asking for "one thing to focus on" each week. This can help make therapy more manageable and less overwhelming for both you and your child.

Create a therapeutic home environment

Creating a supportive environment at home is essential for the therapeutic process to work. A healthy home environment not only reflects your family's mutual care for each other but also offers a safe place for your child to continue developing the skills they learn in therapy.

Establish consistent routines

Consistency is key to creating a predictable, stable home environment. Create a consistent daily schedule and provide "five-minute warnings" when transitioning between activities.

By making your environment safe and predictable, you create a sense of security. This can reduce your child's anxiety when practicing new skills.

Set up a distraction-free practice area

Establish a distraction-free area for your child's therapy sessions and practicing their new skills. Minimize sensory overload and make adjustments to this space as needed to meet your child's sensory needs. For example, use soft lighting, minimize clutter, and have them help choose items for this space.

Practice skills together

Another important part of helping your child is practicing the skills that they’re learning in therapy with them at home. The skills your child learns in therapy sessions become stronger the more they practice. You can reinforce this by practicing these skills at home. For example, you might: 

• Practice mindfulness as a family. 
• Practice deep breathing together.
• Build a coping toolkit that includes a stress ball or other fidget toys.
• Walk through a calming exercise that your child learned in therapy.  

Incorporate therapy techniques into daily life

Your child's therapist will likely give you skills to work on with your child throughout the week. Shift your mindset from these being "therapy homework" to integrating specific skills into your daily activities. A couple of ways to do this are to focus on a "skill of the week" and embed these skills into playtime, chores, and errands.

Instead of scheduling dedicated "therapy homework" time at home, you can weave these practices into the flow of your day. For example, you can use mealtime to practice communication, social skills, and fine motor skills. Other opportunities to practice include board games, engaging in pretend play, and doing arts and crafts. Chores and self-care tasks like getting dressed and cleaning up are good times to practice their ability to follow directions.

Use positive reinforcement and motivational strategies

Using positive reinforcement is a great way to help your child stay on track since it makes the process more rewarding. This increases the likelihood that your child will continue to engage in healthy or desirable behaviors.

Make sure to praise your child's efforts often. Praise is a powerful reminder that you are in their corner and that you are paying attention when they try to meet their goal. You can also use token systems and rewards to encourage positive change.

Another way to encourage engagement is to use choice boards — visual tools that help your child make choices. A choice board provides your child with a display of available activities, items, or reinforcers. When using a choice board, start with just a few options to avoid overwhelming your child. Use clear photos or words, like “reading” or “drawing.” 

Present the board consistently, for example, when a child needs to choose something to do, such as every day after school. When your child makes their choice, have them follow through immediately. This teaches them that their choices are powerful and that they can clearly communicate what they need.

Track, celebrate, and share progress

For therapy to work, you need to communicate consistently with the therapist. Tracking progress can provide you and your child's therapist with concrete data on whether the treatment plan is effective.

Keep track of positive behavior by writing it down in a notebook, using an app, or by taking a video. With your child’s comfort and consent in mind, taking occasional videos of their interactions can help you notice even subtle changes and improvements. Body language is also something that can’t always be clearly expressed in words.

It’s important to celebrate small victories to help build your child's confidence and self-esteem. Celebrating small wins also helps motivate them to continue making even more progress. Encourage others in your family (like siblings) to show support and encouragement as well. Here are some simple ways to celebrate progress: 

• Use visual trackers: A sticker for each therapy skill practiced can be motivating. 
• Make a “proud moment” chart: Add notes about your child’s accomplishments to this chart. 
• Make a “wins” jar: Add your child’s small wins to the jar. Have them pull their “wins” out of the jar when they need encouragement. 

Respecting boundaries

While it’s important for parents to be involved in therapy, it’s also equally important that they respect their child’s boundaries and privacy. Children need a safe, private therapeutic space to feel comfortable opening up with their therapist. While you may feel that it is your right to know everything, avoid pressing your child for every detail. It’s important to trust your therapist's judgment and allow your child or teen the space they need to open up. 

Prioritizing self-care for parents

Caregiving is a tough job. Over time, this stress can lead to burnout. This is especially true for parents of children with special needs. If left untreated, caregiver burnout not only negatively impacts your mental health, but also your child's well-being. To be a truly present parent, you must take time to take care of yourself.

When you model healthy coping skills and prioritize your mental health, you teach your child the importance of seeking support when they need it. Seeking support through support groups, taking time for yourself, and practicing healthy diet and exercise habits can bolster your resilience as a caregiver and help you manage each challenge as it presents itself with patience and a positive outlook.

How Emora Health can help

If you have been supporting your child at home, practicing all of the skills, and acknowledging their progress, but nothing is changing, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’re doing something wrong. It may simply mean that there isn’t a good therapeutic fit between your child and their therapist. 

If you’re looking for a new therapist for your child or teen, you have come to the right place! By seeking care through Emora Health, you can have your child matched with the right therapist based on age, specialty, and personality preferences. 

Whether you're looking to test for symptoms related to ADHD or autism spectrum disorder, or you have other concerns, Emora Health can help. We care about the quality of care your family receives. Only about 5% of therapists meet our rigorous selection standards, ensuring we match you with the most qualified mental health specialists available. Start the therapy intake process with Emora Health today.