The Importance of Continuing Therapy Over the Summer

With school coming to an end and the excitement of summer being around the corner, the importance of maintaining therapy sessions may not be the first thing on a parent's mind. Of course, every child is different, however, for many children and families, the summer months can be a crucial time to continue their therapeutic journey! In this post, we will explore why the summer sessions matter and how they are just as essential as those during the school year. 

As many of us know, therapy thrives on consistency. Just like any skill or habit, progress in therapy is best achieved through regular practice and reinforcement. With consistency over the summer, therapists and clients have a unique opportunity to slowly build and solidify the use of new coping skills and practice the skills so that they can feel comfortable with them. This will help children and families not only use these skills when they are “stressed” or “overwhelmed”, but also in their day-to-day lives to build themselves up for futher success. 

Continuing therapy sessions over the summer will also help in the prevention of regression. Therapists will have the chance to monitor their client’s progress over time without having any gaps in their treatment plans. Having gaps in treatment may lead to a loss of a therapeutic relationship between the client and clinician, a break in the momentum of skill-building, and a loss of a supportive structure. Holding sessions over the summer allows the therapist to track improvements, identify areas of challenges, and adjust interventions as clinically appropriate to ensure the skillset is tailored to the client’s evolving needs. It also is an opportune time for therapists to build skills with the client as they transition between grade levels, school structures, or seasons of life to help them prepare for “what’s next”. 

Summer also often means children have more free time, which can be challenging for them and their families. For some kids, the changes of routine, social interactions, and structure can be very overwhelming and difficult to process. Continued therapy sessions provide a safe space where they can discuss these struggles and learn tools to help them feel equipped to handle the changes. The increase in time can also be an excellent source for families to enter into effectively navigating through these obstacles together, by partaking in family sessions, as many times schedules during the school year are tricky to balance.  

After a period of discontinuation, reengaging in therapy can be challenging for children. They may feel hesitant and/or resistant to the return of therapy, especially if they have faced regression during the break. Overcoming this will take added time and effort from all parties involved. Therefore, it is key that parents discuss having a summer treatment plan with their therapist and make having scheduled sessions a priority for their child. Maintaining therapy for anyone is a commitment worth making to help ensure children and families thrive both during the school year and beyond.