How do I explain Psychotherapy to Older Children / Teens?

For older children/teens, the parent can say something like:

“I notice that you have seemed really sad and are sleeping a lot lately. I think you should talk to a therapist about ways to better understand and manage your sadness. I have found someone named Cierra that I think you will like. I made an appointment to see her on Wednesday afternoon.”

If met with resistance, the parent might tell them that the expectation is that they will attend a few sessions, and then they can discuss with the parent their feelings about continuing. If therapy is non-negotiable due to circumstances such as severe depression or suicidal ideation, parents should emphasize that they love the child too much to see them continue in pain without any help. Parents might also validate that they know it wasn’t the child’s idea and make sure that the child/teen understands that therapy is NOT a punishment, even if the teen has been exhibiting poor judgment/behaviour. Finally, if it is the family seeking therapy as a unit, the parent might say that they have made an appointment with a family therapist who will help everyone communicate with and understand each other better.