“I Don’t Think My Child Needs Counselling”

Unpacking Parental Resistance to Therapy in School

“I Don’t Think My Child Needs Counselling” 

"They share everything with us."

 "My child doesn’t need therapy right now."

These are the kinds of responses we often hear from parents when we reach out to them for counselling consent. Since most students are minors, we’re required to involve parents or guardians before beginning any kind of therapeutic support. But this step, which is meant to include parents as partners in a child’s well-being, often becomes a barrier instead. In most cases, it’s not the student who resists therapy. It’s the parent who’s unsure, hesitant, or sometimes even outright dismissive. And while this can be difficult to navigate, it’s important to acknowledge why this resistance exists.

1. The Stigma around Mental Health

Many parents worry that if their child sees a counsellor, people might start thinking there’s “something wrong” with them. Many parents worry that if their child goes to therapy, they will be labelled as having a mental illness or that other students, teachers, or relatives might begin to treat them differently. 

2. Fear of Being Judged as a Parent

Another layer to this resistance often comes from a place of personal insecurity. Many Indian parents carry an internal narrative that they have sacrificed so much for their children. It’s painful for parents to consider the possibility that their child is struggling emotionally, especially when they’ve tried so hard to give them everything. Therapy can sometimes be seen as a judgment on parenting rather than the supportive process it actually is. There’s a strong cultural emphasis on keeping problems private, especially anything related to emotions, behaviour, or family matters. As a result, the idea of a third person being involved in their child’s emotional world can feel uncomfortable, even threatening.

3. The Expectation That Children Should Share Everything With Parents

Parents also say, “But my child talks to me about everything.” But even in the most open and loving families, there are things children hesitate to talk about. Peer pressure, self-image, anxiety, friendships, academic stress, heartbreak, loneliness—these experiences are deeply personal, and children often don’t have the words to express them or the emotional tools to explain them clearly. Sometimes, they don’t want to “burden” their parents. Other times, they’re afraid of disappointing them, and so they stay silent. 

What Therapy Actually Offers:

Therapy gives children a safe, neutral, and non-judgmental space to speak openly. It helps them make sense of their feelings, build emotional resilience, and develop better coping skills. It’s not just for children in crisis—it’s for any child who might benefit from being heard and supported in a different way. When parents say no to therapy based on assumptions, fears, or social pressure, they might unknowingly be closing a door that could help their children grow into emotionally healthy adults.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 50% of all mental health conditions start by age 14, but most cases go undetected and untreated.¹ Early intervention through school-based counselling can significantly impact a child’s emotional and academic development.

What we need is a shift in perspective. Therapy is not an admission of failure but an act of care. It doesn’t mean your child is “broken” or you haven’t done enough as a parent. It simply means your child might benefit from talking to someone trained to help them navigate what they’re going through. This shift won’t happen overnight. It requires time, conversation, awareness, and a willingness to unlearn old beliefs. But every time a parent says, “Let’s give it a try,” they’re helping break the stigma for their child and many others who are quietly struggling.

Reference

¹ World Health Organization. (2021). Mental health of children and adolescents. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/mental-health-of-children-and-adolescents