What if my kid doesn’t want help?

I always find it fascinating when the adults “dance around” the child who needs support while the child takes little to no initiative in the process. The child needs to be a willing participant in this endeavor. So what do you do if your kid doesn’t want help?

Oftentimes, most kids with learning challenges do want support, but they don’t see how it is going to help. They need to experience small and big “wins” in order to fully participate in the process. They have usually been let down, feel insecure, and have low self-esteem. They need to make progress and see that the support works before they will truly be open to change.

Sessions need to be planned, directed, and fun. Yes, this needs to be fun. A personal connection needs to be made. Most kids need to know and experience what happens when they stumble or fall: they need to know they won’t disappoint their therapist or coach—they need to have a honest relationship with them. This takes time, but is often worth the effort. This process helps them become open to change.