Why the summer is ideal to start child therapy
Summer is coming. Some parents have plans and events planned out early for their child for the summer, others may be worried about the uncertainties around what to do with the children over the long summer holidays. Help for Families Canada’s child therapist, Tania Bryan, helps you understand why the summertime is an ideal opportunity to start child therapy.
Summer Counselling Benefits
Proactive Learning of Coping Skills During Summer Child Therapy
Most parents look for therapy only after a crisis—an outburst at home, a meltdown at school, or constant conflict. But what if therapy was used the same way as regular checkups? We don’t wait until a child is very sick to see a doctor. We go early to prevent problems. The same idea works for mental health.
Summer gives children the chance to practice skills without the stress of homework or tests. By the time school starts, they walk in feeling more prepared and less anxious.
Summer Therapy Learning for the Shy or Socially Anxious Child
Some children freeze when asked to introduce themselves in class. Others sit alone at recess, wishing they knew how to join a game. These moments can feel painful for both the child and the parent watching.
Summer therapy can give shy or socially anxious children a safe place to practice. They learn how to start conversations, respond when someone says “no,” and handle peer conflict without shutting down. Kids also learn ways to calm their body when their heart races or their hands sweat. With these tools, the first day of school becomes less scary and more exciting.
Summer Therapy Learning for the Child with Anxiety
Imagine a child who knows the material but freezes during a test. Or one who spends hours worrying at night about making a mistake the next day. These worries often get in the way of learning.
In summer therapy, children learn coping strategies before the pressure returns. Using CBT techniques, they practice turning “I’ll fail this test” into “I can prepare and do my best.” They also build skills to calm their bodies—like breathing exercises or grounding tools—so they don’t get stuck in a panic spiral. When school starts, they have ways to manage stress instead of being overwhelmed by it.
Summer Therapy Learning for the Child with A.D.H.D.
Children with ADHD often mean well but still lose homework, forget chores, or get stuck starting assignments. A parent may watch them bounce from one task to another without finishing anything. Over time, this can lead to daily frustration for both the child and the family.
Summer therapy provides focused training in executive functioning skills. Kids practice simple systems for staying organized, breaking big tasks into smaller steps, and finishing what they start. For example, instead of missing another project deadline, a child learns how to create a checklist and follow it through. By fall, they enter school with a plan that sets them up for success.
Improving family relationships
A lot of family time over 7 to 10 weeks of summer holidays can highlight areas of strain and conflict in family relationships. Summertime child therapy can easily incorporate family therapy to build communication and conflict management skills for the child, as well as for the family.
Kids Are More Relaxed & Open in Summertime Child Therapy
School year brings with it stress and pressures which may distract or hinder your child’s openness to therapy and doing the work of therapy on top of their academic responsibilities and extracurricular activities. In my own practice as a child counselor, I prefer to not schedule children under the age of 12 years for after school therapy sessions because their attention is low and their capacity for additional learning is limited. Children are better able to internalize new coping skills and be better equipped to use them later when learning takes place during summer child therapy.
Protection for at risk children& youth from the dangers of lack of routine.
According to Psychology Today article Why Summer is an Ideal Time for Your Child’s Therapy
“For some teens who are prone to anxiety or depression, the lack of structure during the summer can even exacerbate moodiness and malaise” – Dr. Amy Mezulis
Dr. Amy Mezulis proposed that a therapist can help teens maximize their summertime goals or intentions and also to find a balance between their free time & structured activities and sustain emotional wellbeing.
Summer intensives are less expensive & more impactful.
In the effort to save money child therapy is often booked in a wide range throughout the school year. But, for high complex situations such as rage & aggressive behaviors as well as self harm, if a child is attending therapy regularly (1 or 2 times per week) for four to six weeks more significant observable changes are reported by parents. These gains are easily maintained with consistent intermittent therapy through the next school year.
Take-Aways
Therapy for children during the summer offers a wide range of benefits including strengthening family relationships, learning relevant coping skills in a time when they are less stressed and in a better space for learning. Additionally access to intensive scheduling brings optimum behavioural changes for complex behaviours.
Invitation for Enrollment for Child Therapy Services
If your child already has challenges or you are wanting to proactively invest in your child’s mental & emotional wellbeing, please schedule a free phone consult to find out about our child therapy services.
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