Navigating Your Child’s Therapy When Their Therapist Goes on Maternity Leave or Leaves the Practice
When your child’s therapist goes on maternity leave, leaves the practice, or moves out of state, it can feel like a significant disruption in their mental health care. For kids and teens dealing with anxiety, trauma, or other emotional challenges, the idea of losing a trusted therapist can be overwhelming.
As a parent, it’s natural to worry about how this change will impact your child’s progress and well-being. The good news is that with the right approach, you can navigate this transition smoothly and ensure that your child continues to receive the support they need.
Understanding the Situation
When your child’s therapist is planning to take a break or leave, it’s important to first understand the nature of the situation. There are typically three scenarios that might arise:
Maternity Leave: If your child’s therapist is going on maternity leave, this is usually a temporary absence with a planned return date. In this case, the therapist might suggest a temporary therapist to cover the gap or provide you with strategies to help your child maintain their progress during the break. Understanding that the absence is temporary can help reassure both you and your child that the support will continue once the therapist returns.
Leaving the Practice: When a therapist decides to leave the practice permanently, it often means they are pursuing new opportunities or making personal changes that take them away from their current role. In these cases, the therapist will usually provide recommendations for another therapist who can take over your child’s care. This transition is more permanent, so it’s important to carefully consider the options provided to find a new therapist who can continue the work that’s already been started.
Moving Out of State: If your child’s therapist is moving out of state, this represents a more significant change. Unlike maternity leave, this move is permanent, and you’ll need to find a new therapist to continue your child’s care. The therapist may still offer recommendations and help with the transition, but it’s crucial to start looking for a new therapist as soon as possible to avoid any gaps in service.
Understanding which of these situations applies to your child’s therapist will help you plan the best course of action to ensure your child’s mental health needs are consistently met.
The Importance of Continuity in Therapy
Continuity in therapy is really important, especially for kids and teens dealing with anxiety, trauma, or other emotional challenges. Being able to have a predictable place with a trusted therapist gives kids a sense of safety and connectedness.
Image Credit: Unsplash luis arias @luis_arias
Staying consistent provides a dependable space with a therapist to continue to process challenging events, build coping tools, increase emotional regulation and explore their big emotions. If time is taken off from therapy before the child is ready, they may risk an increase in symptoms or even a regression in their progress.
Having a reliable and predictable environment is crucial for kids who are developing their emotional regulation. Having regular sessions provides kids with a structured framework to build on skills, track progress and provide parents with targeted feedback and insights.
Steps to Take When Your Child’s Therapist is Leaving
Communicate with Your Child’s Therapist: It’s so important to have an open conversation with your child’s therapist so you can understand the situation, the therapists plan and what you and your child can expect moving forward. You can ask the therapist for their recommendations for continued care and for other referrals to other trusted therapists within their group or in the area.
Evaluate the Situation: This is a good time to consider if your child is or is not ready to graduate from counseling. Discuss with your child’s therapist if they recommend your child taking a break from counseling or if they recommend continuing therapy with another therapist. And if they do recommend continuing therapy, ask them to provide you with some trusted referrals.
Transitioning to a New Therapist: Finding a new therapist can sometimes feel a little overwhelming. Whether you talk with therapists at the same practice as your child’s current therapist or at a different practice, you want to make sure you find a good fit. It’s OK to talk to several different therapists before you choose one and ask them questions about their background, how they approach therapy and how they will keep you informed. You can read more about finding a good fit therapist right here and here! When it is time to transfer, make sure you fill out your therapist’s paperwork giving them all the details that would be helpful for them to know about your child’s history, progress, and specific needs.
Deciding If It’s Time to Graduate From Therapy
When your therapist is stepping away, it can be a good time to evaluate if your child is ready to graduate or take a break from therapy. When you are considering graduation, it can be very helpful to consult with your child’s therapist to make this decision. Your child’s therapist is able to offer insight on your child’s progress, ability to use their coping skills and any on-going needs. They can give you their recommendation on if taking a break or continuing therapy would be best for your child.
If you feel that your child has met their treatment goals, their anxiety feels manageable or they feel like they are able to use all of their skills in counseling, it may mean it’s time to talk to the therapist about their readiness to graduate. You can read more about what it looks like to graduate from counseling at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis right here.
Supporting Your Child During the Transition
It can be really hard when you have to stop seeing your therapist. When you talk with your child about the upcoming transition it is important to acknowledge and validate their feelings. The relationship we have with our therapist is really important and it can be sad and scary when it comes to an end. Remind your child that transitioning to a new therapist is normal and they didn’t do anything wrong to cause the transition.
Image Credit: Unsplash La-Rel Easter @lastnameeaster
During this change, try to stay as consistent as you can with your schedule and with the transition to a new counselor. Being in counseling provides a stable, structured environment for kids, so keeping your routine consistent can be really important when your child may be feeling anxious with this change in their life.
Next Steps and Resources
Once you know that your child’s therapist is going to be taking a step away, ask the therapist for their recommendation on your child’s continuation of therapy and for referrals.
Once your child’s therapist has provided you with referrals, you can reach out to those therapists and ask for a consultation call. During this consultation call you can learn about their practice, experience and approach as well as if they provide in-person or online therapy.
You can read more about finding a therapist in St. Louis in these helpful blogs:
How Do I Find a Child Therapist in St. Louis?
How to Find Trauma Therapy in St. Louis
ADHD and Anxiety Therapy for Kids and Teens in St. Louis
Looking for a parenting coach in St. Louis?
Get Started at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis
At Compassionate Counseling St. Louis, our St. Louis therapists offer child counseling for kids in St. Louis who are struggling with anxiety, anger, trauma and other concerns as well as parent coaching and virtual therapy for college students throughout Missouri. You can read more about our expert therapists at Compassionate Counseling St. Louis right here. If you would like to learn more, talk about your child’s needs and the best fit for them, scheduled your free 15 minute consultation call right here.
Curious to hear more? Compassionate Counseling St. Louis provides specialized anxiety and anger management therapy for kids, teens, and college students as well as parent coaching. We are located in Clayton, MO and provide anxiety counseling for kids, teens, and college students throughout St. Louis City, St. Louis County, Ladue, University City, Town and Country, Webster Groves, Creve Couer, Kirkwood, Richmond Heights, and Brentwood. We also provide online therapy to teens and college students throughout the state of Missouri. You can set up your free phone consult right on our website.
