Three Myths about Kids’ Therapy in San Diego North County

This blog has been updated from the original October 2020 post.

I’ve lived in San Diego North County for over 20 years, and parents here really take a vested interest in their kids. They care about their kids’ schools, their neighborhoods, and the environments that surround their kids to foster healthy development.

Parents also really care when their kids are struggling, and they want to get them the help they need. But when it comes to child therapy for anxiety, it can be challenging to find a therapist and sort through all the information.

There are myths about therapy in general, and especially Child Therapy.

As a San Diego Child Therapy Specialist, here are three myths that I’ve encountered that people sometimes believe about therapy for kids. These myths contribute to families not getting help. They also add to the stigma around mental health treatment.       

Myth #1: If a child needs anxiety treatment, it’s the parent’s fault.

When children need help, it can be easy for parents to blame themselves. Blaming yourself for what you did or didn’t do in the past or present doesn’t help your child right now. While your child may have inherited some tendencies, genes are not destiny. 

That is the beauty of child therapy. Your child can learn coping skills and gain tools to manage things like anxiety and strengthen their psychological foundation, to be more resilient in the future. As a parent, you can also learn different ways to support your child that are loving and demonstrate your confidence in their abilities to deal with their worries.

Myth #2: A child therapist fixes kids.

Sometimes, people have the false belief that therapy is a bit like taking a child to the dentist to have a cavity filled. The therapist will pry the child’s mouth open, make them “get the issue out”, and then patch up the hurt place. 

Therapy is a process within a relationship of trust.  Within that process, specific goals are set and worked toward. Therapy is rarely a quick fix; however, it shouldn’t last indefinitely either.  Child therapists typically work alongside parents to help a child move toward long-term, healthier functioning.

That doesn’t mean the anxiety will magically go away, however, treatment for anxiety can improve your child’s ability to tolerate distress and discomfort.

Myth #3: Kids don’t actually need therapy for anxiety.

I remember someone who found out I was a child therapist asking, “Why do kids need to come to therapy anyway?” Like adults, I explained, kids can struggle with anxiety & depression, experience trauma, and have difficulties adjusting to adverse life events. A therapist who has experience working with kids can support parents and/or the child through challenges and transitions.

If you are concerned today about your child’s well-being, reach out for help. Many therapists (including myself) provide phone consultations that can help you decide if your child may benefit from therapy. I provide this service for free.

Free Consultation for Child Therapy San Diego

I hope this blog helped to dispel some myths you may have held about Child Therapy in San Marcos that contribute to the stigma about getting help. If you are looking for anxiety treatment, I help children in North County, from offices in San Marcos. I also work with adults, helping them with their anxiety, or helping them parent more calmly and confidently.

To learn more about how I can help your child with anxiety, you can read more here. 

Click here to visit my contact page where you can check my availability and schedule a free, 15-minute phone consultation.

Thank you for visiting my website! I look forward to connecting with you and offering support!

Tami