Back to School: Starting Therapy for Kids, Teens, and College Students

Learn more about Individual Therapy.

In This Blog, You’ll Learn

✅ How therapy supports kids, teens, and college students during back-to-school transitions
✅ The difference between therapy and school counseling services
✅ Answers to common questions
✅ Practical coping strategies for back-to-school stress and anxiety
✅ Key insights into teen therapy: cost, access, and how to explain therapy to teens

✅ How to start therapy in Montclair, NJ

🎒 Back-to-School Transitions and Mental Health

The start of a new school year brings excitement, new opportunities, and also stress. Whether it’s your child starting elementary school, a teen navigating high school pressures, or a college student adjusting to independence, this transition can feel overwhelming.

Therapy provides a safe space to process these changes, build coping skills, and strengthen resilience for the academic year ahead.

📌 Signs Your Child, Teen, or Student May Benefit from Therapy

Difficulty adjusting to new routines or school environments
Increased anxiety, stress, or emotional outbursts
Trouble focusing, sleeping, or managing academic pressure
Social challenges such as bullying, isolation, or peer conflict
Big life transitions (new school, moving, family changes)

🌱 Myths vs. Facts About Therapy and School Counseling

Myth: Kids and teens don’t need therapy unless there’s a “serious” issue.
Fact: Therapy helps with everyday struggles like test anxiety, friendships, or self-esteem.

Myth: School counseling and therapy are the same.
Fact: While school counselors support students during the academic day, therapy provides deeper ongoing care outside of school.

Myth: College students should already know how to cope on their own.
Fact: College is a huge transition, and therapy helps students build independence with support.

🧑‍🏫 Understanding School Counseling

Many parents and students also wonder about what school counseling is and how it relates to therapy. Here are some answers to common questions:

What are school counseling services? → They include academic guidance, emotional support, and career planning within schools.
Why school counseling is important? → It ensures students have access to mental health and academic resources during critical developmental years.
What is school counseling degree? → A specialized graduate degree for professionals who provide support in schools.
How to get school counseling certification? → Requirements vary by state but often include completing a master’s program and supervised internships.
School counseling internships paid? → Some internships are paid, though many are unpaid depending on state and district funding.
What is school counseling program? → A structured curriculum to prepare future school counselors with academic and practical training.
When is National School Counseling Week? → It’s celebrated each February to recognize the work of school counselors:
When is school counseling week 2025? → February 3–7, 2025
When is school counseling week 2026? → February 2–6, 2026

🛠️ Coping Strategies for Back-to-School Stress

✨ Create consistent routines (bedtime, homework time, downtime)
✨ Encourage open conversations about fears or worries
✨ Teach mindfulness techniques like deep breathing or journaling
✨ Balance academics with play, hobbies, and social time
✨ Remind kids and teens that it’s okay to ask for help

💬 FAQs About Back-to-School Therapy

What’s the difference between therapy and school counseling?
School counseling happens in schools and supports academics, career prep, and some social-emotional needs. Therapy goes deeper into mental health, family dynamics, and personal growth outside of school.
Why school counseling and therapy together?
They complement one another. School counseling provides daily academic support, while therapy addresses broader emotional well-being.
Is therapy helpful for college students?
Yes! Therapy supports independence, stress management, relationships, and adjusting to new environments.

How Therapy Helps with Back-to-School Transitions

At Mountains Therapy, we offer therapy for kids (ages 6+), teens, and college students across NJ, NC, FL, and UT. Our approaches are tailored to developmental stages and individual needs:

🌄 How Therapy Helps with Back-to-School Transitions

At Mountains Therapy, we offer therapy for kids (ages 6+), teens, and college students across NJ, NC, FL, and UT. Our approaches are tailored to developmental stages and individual needs:

ACT – Acceptance Commitment Therapy for School: Helps students manage stress at school by aligning their values with healthy actions.
Attachment-Based Therapy for School: Strengthens parent-child and peer connections that support school adjustment.
CBT – Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for School: Teaches practical skills for managing school anxiety, stress, and focus.
DBT – Dialectical Behavioral Therapy for School: Supports emotional regulation for teens navigating school pressures.
EFT – Emotionally Focused Therapy for School: Helps families and couples handle challenges related to school and academics.
Mindfulness-Based Therapy for School: Builds focus, presence, and calm for improved school performance and well-being.
Narrative Therapy for School: Allows students to reframe their school journey with empowerment and confidence.
Psychodynamic Therapy for School: Explores past experiences shaping current struggles in school and learning.
SFT – Solution Focused Therapy for School: Encourages practical, achievable steps toward school success.
TF-CBT – Trauma-Focused CBT for School: Assists students with trauma histories that impact their school life.

👶 Child Therapy FAQs

What is child therapy?
Child therapy is counseling designed to help children work through emotional, social, or behavioral challenges in a safe and supportive environment.

How much is child therapy?
At Mountains Therapy, child therapy sessions. from 195 and more. Costs may vary, and some families may qualify for insurance reimbursement using a superbill.

How do I get my child into therapy by counseling teenagers?
You can contact a licensed therapist directly, ask your pediatrician or school counselor for referrals, or book online.

How to do therapy with a child?
Therapists use age-appropriate approaches such as play therapy, art, storytelling, or structured conversations to help children express themselves.

How to convince a child to go to therapy?
Explain therapy in simple, positive terms. Emphasize that therapy is a safe space where they can talk, play, or share feelings, and reassure them it’s not a punishment.

How to get a child to go to therapy?
Offer encouragement, involve them in choosing the therapist if possible, and explain what to expect to reduce fear.

How does child therapy work?
Child therapy works by creating a supportive environment where children can express themselves, learn coping skills, and process emotions through conversation, activities, and therapeutic play.

What is child play therapy?
Play therapy uses games, toys, and creative activities to help children express emotions and experiences they may not yet have the words to describe.

What is parent child therapy?
Parent-child therapy involves both the child and parent(s) in sessions, strengthening communication, bonding, and problem-solving within the family.

What does child therapy look like?
A session may include talking, playing, drawing, or structured activities, depending on the child’s age and needs.

What is child therapy called?
It’s often called child counseling, play therapy, or pediatric psychotherapy.

Who does child therapy?
Licensed therapists trained in child development and evidence-based practices provide child therapy.

Why would a child need therapy?
Children may need therapy if they are experiencing anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, trauma, grief, or difficulty adjusting to life changes.

Why would a child need play therapy?
Play therapy helps children who struggle to verbalize their feelings. It supports emotional regulation and healing after stress or trauma.

Why does a child need play therapy?
Because play is a child’s natural language, play therapy provides a safe and accessible way for them to process complex emotions.

👩‍👦 Teen Therapy FAQs

What is teen therapy (counseling teenagers)?
Teen therapy is counseling specifically designed for adolescents, helping them manage school stress, friendships, identity development, and family relationships.

How much does teen therapy cost?
Costs vary depending on the provider. At Mountains Therapy, individual sessions are $195 for 45 minutes. Some families may receive reimbursement through insurance with a superbill.

How to get teen therapy?
You can request an appointment online, call our office, or ask your child’s school counselor or pediatrician for a referral.

How to explain therapy to a teen?
Be open and supportive. Let them know therapy is a safe, private space to talk about anything on their mind—not a punishment, but a tool for growth and stress relief.

What is teen wilderness therapy?
Teen wilderness therapy is a structured program combining outdoor experiences with counseling to help teens develop resilience, responsibility, and emotional regulation. It’s often considered for more intensive needs.

Why is teen therapy important?
Teen years come with academic pressures, social changes, and identity exploration. Therapy helps teens build healthy coping skills and emotional resilience during this critical stage.

📝 Quotes on Counselling in Schools

Exploring quotes on counselling in schools helps remind us how important emotional support is in education. Here are a few powerful reflections:

“Counselling in schools provides students with a safe space to share their struggles and discover solutions.”
“The true value of counselling in schools is giving every child the chance to feel heard and understood.”
“Strong academic growth happens when counselling in schools supports emotional well-being first.”
“Counselling in schools helps students manage stress, build resilience, and develop lifelong coping skills.”
“The impact of counselling in schools lasts far beyond graduation—it shapes the adults our students become.”

✨ Start Child or Teen Therapy Today

Is your child, teen, or college student feeling stressed about the new school year? You’re not alone—many parents search for answers like “how do I get my child into therapy” or “how much does teen therapy cost” when back-to-school worries arise. At Mountains Therapy, we specialize in child therapy, teen therapy, and college student support to help families navigate school transitions with confidence.

Whether you’re curious about what child therapy looks like, looking for a therapist for teens near me, where to find teenager therapists, wondering why school counseling is important, or simply need tools to support your student’s emotional health, therapy can make all the difference. Don’t wait until stress builds up. Start the school year strong with support that lasts.,