I started my daughter in therapy nearly 9 months ago to help her learn to cope better with typical teenage stress. She has no serious mental disorder, does not use drugs or alcohol, or has ever been involved in any sort of harmful behaviors.
She has a vibrant personality and was letting the stress of teenage years start to effect her grades. I suggested therapy as a way of coping through some of these difficult times. In the beginning I expressed my goals to the therapist, and how I wanted my daughter to get her priorities in order so she could get back on track. My daughter is now back on honor roll and making good choices in her life. The therapist had not consulted with me on progress even though she knows I am always available. I finally had to ask the therapist to go over my daughters progress. I mentioned that I have seen daughter make positive changes, her grades are fine, and less conflict at home. I expressed to the therapist that goals have been met and I no longer see a need for my daughter to continue in therapy. The therapist then said it is not up to me as to when to end therapy, but up to my daughter. I expressed to the therapist that at some point this will come to an end and I am concerned about daughter becoming dependent on therapy. The therapist could not give me a specific reason why she thought my daughter needed to me there, other than saying how she is a safe outlet for my daughter to vent her emotions, and how she can be somewhat like a parent. After the parent comment, she quickly caught herself, and then acknowledge me as the parent.
First of all, if this therapist told me in the beginning that it would be up to my daughter as when to end therapy, I would never have started with therapy in the first place. Second, I was never sending my daughter into therapy to get parenting. She gets plenty of nurturing from her two parents at home. I take offense that this therapist seems to dismiss my role as a parent of a minor in therapy. While my daughter has developed a relationship of trust with the therapist, I have only developed distrust. I already know it needs to end, but how do I do that without creating damage to my daughter?