When is it too early or too late to start therapy?
Story time!
I recently reconnected with a family I worked with a couple of years back. When I first met their son, I bent down and said "hi" - Pretty typical greeting. However, to my surprise, his response was a massive slap in my face. He was just short of 2 years old. Although I was taken aback, I was determined to help him and remained committed to our work together. Day after day, we worked on his emotional regulation and appropriate ways to communicate his needs.
Before long, changes were noticeable. After only a month, he started greeting me with a warm "hi" and a hug. He is now thriving in mainstream school and has many friends. He no longer shows sign of developmental delays or emotional issues. He reminds me of the amazing power of resilience and why I love the work I do.
This is simply one of many examples that shows the power of early behavioural intervention. There is no such thing as "too young" to start therapy. A good rule of thumb is the sooner, the better.
That brings us to the next question: Is my child "too old" for therapy? Let me share another story with you. Recently, I had the pleasure of working with a teen for a couple of months. Her parents reached out to me because they were worried about her behavioural issues at home. She had a tendency to be aggressive towards her younger brother, often exploding with rage and having frequent tantrums.
We immediately started working on her emotional regulation, teaching to recognize her emotions and how to react in a more constructive way. After only 3 months of therapy, the behaviours at home had improved so much that we decided to reduce the number of therapy hours she received each week.
The point of this story is that, no, your child is not "too old" to start therapy. Anyone, no matter their age or personal issues, can benefit from behavioural therapy.
If you are concerned about your child's behaviours, do not wait to seek help from a professional.
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