When Therapy and School Clash: What Parents Need to Know.
As a parent, it’s tough when your child’s therapy sessions fall during school time. With after-school appointments often booked out, you may worry about your child missing important lessons. But mental health experts and research agree: mental health is the foundation for learning, and sometimes therapy during school hours is a great choice for your child’s well-being and long-term success.
Why Therapy During School Hours Makes Sense?
1. Mental Health Directly Affects Learning.
Children struggling with anxiety, depression, trauma, or other emotional challenges often find it hard to concentrate, engage, and retain information in class (Rickwood et al., 2016; McLeod et al., 2012).
When mental health difficulties go unaddressed, children may also have lower attendance and more behaviour challenges (Suldo et al., 2014). Supporting their emotional health through therapy helps them be more present and readier to learn.
2. Early Intervention Prevents Escalation.
Delaying mental health support can lead to more serious issues later on (Schulte-Körne, 2016). Early therapy gives children tools to manage emotions effectively and reduces the chance of emotional distress becoming a barrier to learning (Fazel et al., 2014).
3. Therapy Sessions Can Be Emotionally Demanding.
Delaying mental health support can lead to more serious issues later on (Schulte-Körne, 2016). Early therapy gives children tools to manage emotions effectively and reduces the chance of emotional distress becoming a barrier to learning (Fazel et al., 2014).
Tips for Balancing Therapy and School.
- Schedule Strategically: Whenever possible, book therapy at the start or end of the school day, or during less critical subjects or breaks, to reduce disruption.
- Communicate with Educators: Let teachers know about therapy appointments ahead of time. This helps them support your child with accommodations like adjusted homework or providing class notes.
- Create a Post-Therapy Routine: Encourage calming activities after therapy—such as a short walk, snack, or quiet time—to help your child decompress.
- Monitor Academic Progress: Stay in touch with teachers to ensure your child stays on track. If needed, discuss extra support options such as tutoring or adjusted workloads.
Collaborate with the School.
Schools increasingly understand that mental health and academic success go hand in hand. The goals is to work together with your child’s teachers, school counsellors, or therapists to help develop a coordinated support plan for your child.
When everyone is on the same page, balancing therapy and school becomes more manageable.
Conclusion.
If your child’s mental health is significantly impacting their daily functioning, therapy usually takes priority. Short-term absences from class are often less harmful than long-term emotional distress. Supporting your child’s mental health today lays a stronger foundation for academic success and personal well-being tomorrow.
References.
- Department of Education. (2018). Australian Student Wellbeing Framework. Australian Government.
- Fazel, M., Hoagwood, K., Stephan, S., & Ford, T. (2014). Mental health interventions in schools in high-income countries. The Lancet Psychiatry, 1(5), 377–387.
- McLeod, J. D., Uemura, R., & Rohrman, S. (2012). Adolescent mental health, behavior problems, and academic achievement. Journal of Health and Social Behavior, 53(4), 482–497.
- Rickwood, D., Mazzer, K. R., & Telford, N. R. (2016). Social influences on seeking help from mental health services, in-person and online, during adolescence and young adulthood. BMC Psychiatry, 15(40).
- Schulte-Körne, G. (2016). Mental health problems in a school setting in children and adolescents. Deutsches Ärzteblatt International, 113(11), 183–190.
- Suldo, S. M., Gormley, M. J., DuPaul, G. J., & Anderson-Butcher, D. (2014). The impact of school mental health on student and school-level academic outcomes. Psychology in the Schools, 51(3), 266–281.
