Child Therapy but No Parent Therapy???

Why mommy, why? Why am I going to therapy for my perceived problems but you're not going to learn how to help me with my perceived problems? Why aren't you going to therapy to learn to cope with the challenges facing our family? Why, daddy, why? 

Most times, many people, including me, before I learned better, think that if they have a child that is struggling with issues that require mental health help that the only person who should be seeing a psychiatrist, psychologist or therapist is that child.

In working in psychiatric hospitals, it is my experience that a grave number of parents only seek support for their child. I have heard people say things like, "I don't have a problem. I can't wait until he's better so our family can be perfect again." While there are various factors that can lead to mental illnesses, often times it can be genetic. It can be derived from either parents lineage, even from a relative you've never met. It can also be trauma based.

Despite where it's coming from, it should be dealt with as a family problem. In other words, individual therapy and family therapy. The pressures of the world don't care who is feeling them or how they cause you to respond. You must be smart and use the resources at your disposal to keep your family whole, sane and loving.

Often times, when a child gets consistent mental health support and the parents or other siblings don't get support, the child who is now reasonable and self regulated has been returned to a home that is often lacking in need of support similar to what that child received. This is hard to accept as as parents, we might think that "We have it all together". None of us are perfect and every person has different goals. Some people strive to just get by and others recognize that self care:emotional, physical, mental, social and financial are key to having a stable life.

There are 10 Ways to Be a Great Parent. Read about it and become the best parent you can be.

While I have linked you to information about mental health, please do not attempt to diagnose yourself or loved one's. If someone in your home is suffering with what appears to likely be mental health concerns, find a psychiatrist and then a therapist who accepts your insurance. Make an appointment today for the whole family.