The Commitment to Therapy
The Power of Commitment: Why Sticking with Therapy Matters for Your Child
Starting therapy for your child is an act of love. It’s a way of saying, “I see you struggling, and I want to help.” That first phone call, intake, or initial session can bring a deep sense of relief—finally, you have support. But just like any meaningful process, the real growth happens over time. Committing to therapy is one of the most important gifts you can give your child—and your family.
The truth: it typically takes about 18-20 consistent sessions to see results. Crazy, right? The three biggest indicators of progress within child work are frequency, duration, and intensity. Often, around session 9, we start seeing a little bit of relief at home and feel like things are better, our tendency is to get busy, cancel sessions, feel like it is less urgent, when, ironically, that is actually when the real work can start to take place. Stick with it. My recommendation is to run the marathon to the finish line, as the results will be far greater, than taking a long water break after 8-10 sessions. It will change the trajectory for your child, and your family.
Therapy Takes Time to Build Safety and Trust
When a child begins therapy, the first few sessions are about connection and building safety. Children need to know their therapist is a safe person who will listen, understand, and meet them right where they are. This sense of safety and trust is the foundation for all meaningful growth. It takes time, consistency, and patience—but once that bond is built, it opens the door to healing. For some kiddos, this initial season can take a while, depending on the trauma that the child has experienced. For other kids, they are able to see the therapist as a support person quickly and use the help offered.
At Birch Therapy, we know that trust grows through showing up—especially on the days that feel tough. Our therapists focus on creating a warm, steady and consistent space where your child can explore feelings, develop coping skills, and build confidence at their own pace. The Birch offices are thoughtfully curated for kids and parents alike to encourage regulation and relaxation, like a cozy living room with hot tea.
Small Steps Lead to Big Change
Therapy isn’t about quick fixes—it’s about gradual, lasting growth. Since growth isn’t linear, some sessions may feel full of progress, while others might seem quieter or less defined. But every moment matters. Every story shared, every skill practiced, every gentle breakthrough builds toward resilience and emotional strength. If you hop on a plane in Raleigh headed to LA in California, and the pilot shifts course 2 degrees, it will drastically change your arrival location. Similarly, therapy is measured in 2 degree shifts, in the tiniest increments of change. Human nature is to avoid change at all costs, as it can feel uncomfortable and we tend to avoid discomfort. However, each child behavior is meeting a need for that child, even if behavior is not healthy, and therapy gently guides change to meet the need in a healthier way. As such, the behaviors will naturally change.
Your Role as a Parent Matters Deeply
At Birch Therapy, we believe healing happens within the whole family system. When parents commit to the process—attending parent sessions, practicing tools at home, or simply supporting their child’s efforts—they reinforce the message that emotional health is worth the effort. That is a core value of our mission here, as 45 minute sessions are minute compared to the hourly and daily influence parents have on the therapeutic process.
Your steady presence models something powerful: we don’t have to face hard things alone. Families who stay consistent with therapy often see the most powerful changes: improved communication, calmer homes, and children who feel more secure in who they are.
It’s Okay When It Feels Hard
There may be weeks when your child doesn’t want to go, or when you wonder if therapy is “working.” Those moments are part of the process. Real growth often stirs up big feelings before it brings relief. By continuing to show up, you’re teaching your child that courage isn’t the absence of fear—it’s choosing to move forward anyway. Great therapy sessions have happened in the parking lot, in the car, in the spaces that have made it difficult for a child to entire the office building. We get it, and have experienced it all.
Additionally, there are weeks when therapy can feel like one more thing. One more appointment, more time spent in the car, more opportunity for sibling discord, another afternoon with dinner on the go. I feel that, and therapy can feel like one more thing in a long list of “to dos.” I have noticed for my own kids, they start to count on the rhythm and cadence of therapy within their lives. It has felt to have far greater value than other activities and opens up more emotionally aware conversations within the family system post session.
The Gift of Staying the Course
When families commit to therapy, they’re planting seeds of hope and resilience that will last far beyond the therapy room. Over time, children begin to feel more confident, more connected, and more capable of managing life’s challenges. Whether a child attends therapy for 2 or 62 sessions, we hope they leave with a positive relationship with therapy, knowing they can return in difference seasons of life for support. We feel the ending of therapy is just as important as the beginning, and we value a healthy termination in therapy, modeling closure and a supportive goodbye.
At Birch Therapy, we are honored to walk alongside families through every season—the messy, the beautiful, and everything in between. We believe in the slow, steady power of showing up, and we see every week as another opportunity for growth. Because when families stay the course, healing happens.
Ready to Begin the Journey?
If your family is ready to take the next step, our team at Birch Therapy is here to help. We specialize in supporting children, teens, and parents through life’s challenges with compassion, creativity, and a family-centered approach. Together, we’ll build lasting skills, strengthen connection, and nurture the resilience your child already carries within.
Reach out today to learn how we can support your family’s emotional health journey.