Guest blog by Greg Melendez.

It's a situation many parents struggle with: you know your child could benefit from extra support, but they want nothing to do with therapy. If this sounds familiar, you're far from alone. Children and teenagers often feel unsure—or even strongly resistant—when the idea of therapy is first introduced.

While this can feel frustrating or worrying, there are ways to navigate this conversation with your child or teen.

Why Young People Resist Therapy

Before jumping into solutions, it's helpful to pause and consider why your child might feel reluctant. Understanding their perspective—rather than pushing past it—can make all the difference.

Young people might hesitate for many reasons, such as:

• Feeling ashamed about their behaviour and wanting to keep it hidden
• Feeling blamed for problems happening at home
• Worrying they're "different" or that something is "wrong" with them
• Feeling anxious about trying something new or unknown
• Feeling hopeless that anything can help
• Feeling pressured or pushed into therapy
• Believing they might "fail" at therapy
• Feeling unheard or misunderstood
• Worrying about missing out on activities or social time
• Experiencing tension or trust issues within the family

Every child is unique. Their reluctance might be tied to one of these reasons—or something else entirely. What matters most is approaching the situation with curiosity rather than judgment.

How to Talk to Your Child About Therapy

Here are some thoughtful, gentle strategies to help open up the conversation and reduce resistance:

1. Use calm, clear language

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Share what you're worried about and what you hope therapy could support. "I" statements can help keep things grounded and non‑blaming.

2. Acknowledge their feelings

Let your child know their concerns make sense. Feeling seen and understood can lower their guard and build trust.

3. Highlight the positives

Explain how therapy can help them—and the whole family—feel better, communicate more easily, or navigate challenges they're facing.

4. Offer room for compromise

Sometimes a small step is enough. You might say, "Let's just meet the therapist once, and then we can talk about how it felt."

5. Stay focused and steady

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It's normal for children to avoid, shift the conversation, or even act out when talking about things they do not want to do. Try not to get pulled off track, even if it feels uncomfortable.

6. Reassure them you're committed

Let them know you're on their side: "If this type of support doesn't feel right, we'll explore other options together."

The Bigger Picture: Patience Goes a Long Way

Getting a child or teen to consider therapy doesn't have to involve force or conflict. You don't need to push them in—and you also don't need to give up at the first sign of resistance.

With patience, empathy, and consistency, many young people gradually become more open to the idea. Sometimes, all they need is time, reassurance, and the sense that they still have some control over the process.

The author  Greg Melendez is a clinical psychologist.

If you would like to talk to anyone about the issues raised in this blog click here to find a therapist in Richmond at The Greenhouse Therapy Rooms.

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