What Does a Typical Therapy Session Look Like for Children and Teens: Insights for Parents

You filled out the forms and are getting your child ready for therapy. 

But you have no idea what to expect in the first session.

You have so many questions: do you need to plan on being there with your child all the time? Will you get updates from the therapist? How can you support them while they are in therapy? How long does it take to see changes?

Here’s what you need to know before you show up for your first teen or child therapy session.

Understanding Therapy Sessions for Young Clients

A typical therapy session could involve several different things, depending on the age of the child or teen. 

A good therapist will use different techniques to make it easy for a shy child to open up. If your child isn’t quite in the talking phase, therapy could be a series of “games” the therapist designs to get insight into the child’s behavior. A therapist will figure out what works best for your child. Communication for different ages looks different. While a teen who is 18 years old could participate in talk therapy, a child who is 5 years old will have a profoundly different session. It’s all about age-appropriate communication, and your therapist will be an expert in that.

4 Things That May Happen During Therapy Sessions

During a therapy session, several things will happen: 

Active Listening and Validation

The therapist will actively listen to and validate your child. Depending on your child’s age, not every session will look like talk therapy. Sometimes, it looks more like playing because that’s how children communicate at certain ages. 

Engaging in Play or Creative Activities

Depending on their age, children communicate through play and creative activities. Sometimes, a therapist will use these techniques to help a child feel more comfortable in the space.

Cognitive Behavioral Techniques

Cognitive behavioral techniques help change behavior and thought patterns. Some of these techniques will be used, especially if your child is old enough for talk therapy.

Establishing Goals and Progress Tracking

A therapist should establish goals with you and your child, and once the goals are established, you will be given a general time frame to achieve those goals. That will give you an idea of how many sessions you need. Remember, this is a rule of thumb. More or fewer sessions may be required depending on progress. Your child’s experience is theirs, and while the therapist can give you updates, the child’s experience is typically kept confidential.

Confidentiality in Therapy

For therapists to work with children, they must build rapport and keep the child’s shares confidential. Therapists walk a line between keeping you updated and keeping their client safe. You will be engaged as much as possible throughout the therapy session, but not all things will necessarily be shared. Ask your therapist for more information on confidentiality if you have specific questions about your child's involvement.

Your role in your Child’s Therapy

Ultimately, if your child is younger than 18 years old, you, your child, and the therapist should work together seamlessly. You are a team, and your child’s healing depends on all of you.  You should be pulled into the process and given enough information to be able to support your child at home. The therapist is trained to help your child through what they are going through. If you have more questions, don’t hesitate to contact the therapist.