Everything You Need to Know About Therapy for Parents

Parenting therapy is an extremely beneficial, specialized form of therapy. The goal is to help parents learn the necessary skills to better manage difficulties that arise when parenting. In some cases, that means focusing on a child’s emotional or behavioral issues. For others, it’s helping parents address their own current or past psychological wounds, so they can be better parents. Therapy for parents may also be beneficial to improve relationship and communication, so parents work well together. In this blog, you can read more about the benefits of parenting therapy as well as factors that may increase risk that you’ll need parenting therapy. 

Benefits of Therapy for Parents

Therapy for parents offers benefits for children and their caregivers. These benefits are both immediate and long-term, meaning you’ll start making positive parenting changes right away, but these benefits will be felt within your parent-child relationships for years to come. In fact, parenting therapy can foster stronger lifelong relationships with children. In addition to these general benefits, some of the many specific benefits of therapy for parents include: 

• Better communication with children at each of their developmental stages, so you can meet them where they are. 
• A safe space to talk through tough parenting situations, so you have a supportive, non-judgmental ear.
• An opportunity to discuss and process your challenging emotions or negative thinking patterns. 
• Increased understanding of how to develop and maintain bonds with children. 
• Skills to improve family functioning and overall wellbeing. 
• Ability to help kids learn to regulate their emotions, improve negative thought patterns, and change disruptive behaviors. 
• Access to other beneficial resources in your community.

Factors that Increase Parental Need for Therapy 

Any parent who simply wants to ensure they are offering children the safest and most secure childhood may want to consider parenting therapy. However, there are some factors that might indicate a greater need, including: 

• Marital/relationship difficulties – parents who are struggling in their marriage or partnership may have a tough time working together as parents. 
• Past trauma or abuse – parents who have experienced trauma or abuse, especially in their own childhood, may struggle with providing appropriate care to their children or need added support in developing parenting skills. 
• Parents who have addictions, mental health concerns, or medical diagnoses – when parents are working through their own difficulties, it can place an added obstacle to their ability to be great parents. 
• Children with cognitive, behavioral, emotional, or medical disorders – even for the best parents, children with special needs or unique struggles may have difficulty knowing how best to care for their children. 
• Parents navigating life challenges – grieving a loss, transitioning to a new job, going through a divorce, and other big life changes and challenges can all make parenting even more of a challenge. 

Interested in Working with a Therapist in Lansing? 

If you’re ready to improve parenting skills, help your child grow and thrive, or make parenting easier in general, don’t hesitate to reach out to the Lansing Counseling team. We make it easy to get in touch with us by calling (517) 333-1499, emailing [email protected], or completing our scheduling request form.