How to get a child to go to therapy

[setpieces]

I'm pretty sure DD15 is depressed.

I'm also pretty sure she's on the autistic spectrum but she does not have a formal diagnosis.

How do we get her to agree to see a therapist? We have tried previously but she gets into a complete emotional state and we back off.

We have explained it's to help her/it's confidential/she can stop if she's uncomfortable etc.

It's impossible and she's getting worse. She needs help but flat refuses to cooperate with accessing help.

I guess you gave her an option of online or face to face?

I would also speak to her (good kind understanding) friends or teachers/auntie or maybe, your friend who she likes, to share why it's important and how it can help...

Thank you. She has no friends, it's part of the problem. We are already in contact with school who are being very supportive. She has flat refused to see their counsellor (which I had hoped would be a starting point). She will not speak to the teachers either.

She has these spiraling emotional outbursts to us about there being no point in anything - and when we try to suggest 'speaking to someone' we get more of the spiral and refusal. It's like a trap where we're all being pulled downward.

Would she consider medication? Maybe GP can prescribe something from speaking to you or her (ideally).

Keep offering help. On Apple TV is a good program called Shrinking. Maybe she can see it and warm up to the therapists.

How about some useful tiktok or insta videos that you can show her explaining the benefits of therapy.

I'm sorry you are going through this. I understand how worried you can feel.

Thanks - there are some good ideas/angles we hadn't thought of.

Have you thought of a different form of therapy for example equine therapy or art therapy (qualified and registered). So many different types maybe something of interest to her may increase her openness to give it a go where the focus is not on her talking but participating in something may be easier?

I think it's really important to find the right therapist. My DC had to try a few before one "stuck". Maybe send her a few links to therapists and ask her which ones she would like to have an introductory session with? Tell her that you will keep looking until you find the right person.

Try theraputic activities 1:1 to start, maybe pottery, crafts, horses, animals, horticulture, DIY, exercise. Consider sourcing an Art Therapist or a mentor.

Talking therapy isnt always the best solution for autistic people. It might be better to get her social support at school, reduce stress and getting get her doing things she enjoys?

Kooth might be an option if she is willing to look into this. Online so might be easier for her.

https://explore.kooth.com/free-online-counselling-mental-health-support-for-young-people/

As someone who was diagnosed with depression at 15, I would say (in the nicest way possible) that you need to go about this the other way around. You are seeking treatment for something that hasn’t yet been diagnosed. Contrary to popular opinion, a therapist cannot diagnose clinical depression in the UK, only a doctor.

You need to take her to your GP first for diagnosis. They can prescribe medication which is likely to help and refer for therapy or you can go private.

I went through the whole thing with all the therapies, all the meds and all treatments, so any questions, just ask. X