I want to see a therapist. How do I tell my parents?

Say what you’re having trouble with, and how it’s affecting you. For example, “I’m realizing it’s really hard for me to participate in class. Even if we’re just reading out loud, I’m terrified the teacher will call on me. I get really anxious and I can’t concentrate. Sometimes I feel so anxious I say I’m sick so I can stay home from school.” Or maybe, “I’m not feeling like myself these days. I’m tired all the time, and I don’t want do things after school. I feel sad all the time — I don’t feel right.” (Hope this helps) :3

Update them on your mental health. Let them know you’ve tried your best to find solutions, but it would be better if you could talk it out with someone. Yes, you could talk to other people, but therapist tend to find solutions and make plans to get your mental health back to normal. If therapy isn’t working, you can stop anytime! If it is working, you can make appointments anytime with your therapist! It will be a good experience to let all of that bottled up sadness/anger out and not have anyone judge you for it! Best feeling ever! I promise.

It can be hard to discuss mental health with parents. If it's safe, telling them directly is often the best way. You can list out what you hope to gain from the therapist, and what makes you feel that way. If possible, offering potential options helps to ease their burden as well. You can also frame it as seeking a life coach in order to be successful at work or in school, if that's more palatable to them. Unfortunately, there can be times where it's not safe to bring it up at all, in which case the best thing to do is whatever it takes to stay safe long enough to get a therapist on your own terms.

Hello, friend! I understand it can be nerve-wracking bringing up something new like this with your parents, especially if you're not sure how they will react, or perhaps even embarrassed to discuss what you've been feeling or going through. I would test the waters, perhaps by asking them if they've ever seen a therapist before, and try to figure out what their stance is on mental health. Maybe they'll even ask you on their own if you'd like to see a therapist once the topic is brought up! Aside from that, you're welcome to chat with listeners for free through 7 cups of tea. Good luck!

Funnily enough I just heard a podcast regarding a similar question. And the answer is let them know why you need an external professional help with management of your mental health. Emphasize on your issues, the role of a therapist, effectiveness of therapy and counseling. As parents surely the wellbeing of their children would be a priority, and if you come from a background wherein mental health and everything related to it is often regarded as bogus then unfortunately your solution would be to lie and meet one. Focus on yourself first and once that is done we can think about changing your parents mindset.

1. Tell them there is nothing wrong to seek professional advice. It is just like any common treatment. 2. Explain properly why you want to seek them. 3. Share your understanding and feelings about that issue with parents. 4. Talk to them calmly about it and tell your parents how you are feeling about that situation and why you want help. 5. Explain them this is as normal as you ask a difficult question in your maths class it is normal to visit a therapist. 6. Don’t try to fight them, keep calm and tell everything you feel about it.

It can be scary to talk to parents about wanting to see a therapist. Different parents within families may have a wide range of responses. You know your parents best and how they often respond to things and things that are going on in your life. Sometimes, it can be helpful to make a list and brainstorm things. It can be helpful to reflect and ask oneself questions. What is your motivation with seeing a therapist? What are goals that you have for therapy? What are you most concerned about with telling your parents that you have the desire to see a therapist? Sometimes, understanding your personal 'why' behind wanting to see a therapist can be helpful for then having a discussion with parents/parental figures. Whatever your reasons may be, it is inspiring that you are on here and on your journey to seeking professional help. You matter.

Wait for a low-stress time when your parents will be in a calm state of mind. Avoid starting the conversation after they've had a rough day, if they're tired, etc. Think about your own reasons for wanting to attend therapy, and rehearse them if you feel like it will help make the experience smoother for you. Let your parents know how you've been feeling, and why you think a therapist would be helpful. Common reasons are that a therapist is an expert in mental health, so they can offer the best support. Therapy also provides a stress and judgement free zone to share feelings and emotions. Understand that your parents may have a lot of questions, especially if they weren't expecting the conversation. Finally, give yourself a pat on the back. Reaching out for support can be difficult, but it shows how resourceful you are. Good luck on your mental health journey.

It can be difficult, because parents normally want the best for you, hoping they can give you everything. Sometimes though, love is not enough. A good talk with family doesn't hurt, but there are times when it feels like it just isn't enough. The way I told my mom was as it follows: "Mom, I'm feeling a lot of things at once and I don't know how to express them. Maybe a professional could help me understand. I know i can talk with you about things, but you see me from a parent's perspective, and I think I need an outsider's opinion."

Because of the many prejudices around it, therapy is often viewed as a taboo, and it may be a hard conversation to have with your parents. So take a deep breath and prepare yourself. Be sure to have their full attention, maybe have them sit down first. Be completely honest with them. Tell them why you want to see a therapist and explain in what ways therapy will help you. Remind them it's nothing to be afraid of - therapy is for everyone and not just for people who suffer from mental illnesses! But if you want to start therapy because you're experiencing symptoms that lead you to believe you might suffer from something, tell them what your symptoms are and add that if they want to help you, one way for them to do that is to agree to make you see a therapist! Remind them their support is really important to you. Offer to research therapists in your area and to check their qualifications, their references, and obviously how much it will cost. Make sure to make them feel involved in the process: their presence is important for you to start feeling better! Hope this helped! Good luck!