Schools Want More Therapy for Students, Not All Parents Agree
2024-02-28
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1Derry Oliver was in fifth grade when she first talked to her mother about seeing a therapist.
2They were moving to New York City. Derry had to live with family members in another state while her mother, also named Derry Oliver, found a job and apartment.
3(In this story, we will call the daughter by her first name, Derry, and her mother by her family name, Oliver.)
4It was a difficult year. A school worker suggested therapy. Derry's mother questioned the advice and disagreed with therapy.
5"You're so young. There's nothing wrong with you. These are growing pains," Oliver told her daughter.
6However, Derry's depression got worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. She struggled with the loneliness of at-home learning. She reached out to her high school for help.
7In New York, school-based mental health professionals like social workers can provide some counseling without parental permission. But therapy requires a parent's agreement.
8"It was very emotional for both of us because I understood her frustrations and fears," Derry remembered.
9"But at the same time, it's sometimes best for your child to be able to access this rather than hold it away from them."
10Using federal money from the pandemic, schools around the U.S. have employed more mental health specialists.
11They also add telehealth and online counseling to reach as many students as possible.
12As treatments have become more readily available and more young people talk openly about mental health issues, schools are now facing difficulties in getting parents to agree to treatment.
13Chelsea Trout is studying social work at New York University and is doing her training at a school in Brooklyn.
14She called it a "disconnect" between parents and children.
15"The kids are all on TikTok or the internet and understand therapy-speak and that this is something that could be helpful for their mental health and are interested in...," said Trout.
16But she added that they may not have support from their parents.
17Politics can also play a part. Some states are looking to make getting therapy without parental permission easier while others are proposing more restrictions.
18The states of California and Colorado have recently lowered the age of consent for treatment to 12.
19But in some states like North Carolina, the issue is part of larger political debates on the input parents can have on school teachings as well as the rights of transgender students.
20Cost is another issue. Therapy is rarely free. And paying for it often requires parental support.
21Research suggests that the need for parental permission can keep young people from getting treatment.
22Jessica Chock-Goldman is a social worker at Bard Early College High School in New York City.
23She said that she has seen many cases where mental health issues turn severe partly because young people did not get earlier access to therapy.
24For Derry and her mother, years of talking have led to some progress.
25Several years ago, her mother agreed to a compromise.
26They found a Black female therapist, which was important to both of them as a Black family.
27Oliver agreed that her daughter could start therapy - as long as she could sit in on the meetings.
28"It has to be someone trustworthy," Oliver said of a possible therapist for her daughter.
29But the therapist changed jobs after a month and Derry has not seen another therapist since.
30Trout, the school social worker in training, said she has met many parents who, like Oliver, have trust issues.
31"If we're thinking about predominantly Black and brown communities, if your interactions with social workers or mental health services or anything in that realm thus far have not been positive," Trout said, "how could you trust them with your kids?"
32Statistics also show a racial divide.
33In 2021, 14 percent of white children reported seeing a therapist at some point during that year.
34This number is compared to 9 percent of Black children, 8 percent of Hispanic children, and 3 percent of Asian American children.
35These numbers come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
36Without access to therapy, Derry has sought advice about dealing with her emotions through friends, school social workers, and the Internet.
37But she feels that she could gain more with professional help.
38Derry has already gotten into several colleges. One thing she is considering is what the school offers for therapy.
39I'm Anna Matteo.
1Derry Oliver was in fifth grade when she first talked to her mother about seeing a therapist. 2They were moving to New York City. Derry had to live with family members in another state while her mother, also named Derry Oliver, found a job and apartment. (In this story, we will call the daughter by her first name, Derry, and her mother by her family name, Oliver.) 3It was a difficult year. A school worker suggested therapy. Derry's mother questioned the advice and disagreed with therapy. 4"You're so young. There's nothing wrong with you. These are growing pains," Oliver told her daughter. 5However, Derry's depression got worse during the COVID-19 pandemic. She struggled with the loneliness of at-home learning. She reached out to her high school for help. 6In New York, school-based mental health professionals like social workers can provide some counseling without parental permission. But therapy requires a parent's agreement. 7"It was very emotional for both of us because I understood her frustrations and fears," Derry remembered. "But at the same time, it's sometimes best for your child to be able to access this rather than hold it away from them." 8Difficulties in getting therapy 9Using federal money from the pandemic, schools around the U.S. have employed more mental health specialists. They also add telehealth and online counseling to reach as many students as possible. 10As treatments have become more readily available and more young people talk openly about mental health issues, schools are now facing difficulties in getting parents to agree to treatment. 11Chelsea Trout is studying social work at New York University and is doing her training at a school in Brooklyn. She called it a "disconnect" between parents and children. 12"The kids are all on TikTok or the internet and understand therapy-speak and that this is something that could be helpful for their mental health and are interested in...," said Trout. But she added that they may not have support from their parents. 13Politics can also play a part. Some states are looking to make getting therapy without parental permission easier while others are proposing more restrictions. 14The states of California and Colorado have recently lowered the age of consent for treatment to 12. But in some states like North Carolina, the issue is part of larger political debates on the input parents can have on school teachings as well as the rights of transgender students. 15Cost is another issue. Therapy is rarely free. And paying for it often requires parental support. 16Parental support 17Research suggests that the need for parental permission can keep young people from getting treatment. 18Jessica Chock-Goldman is a social worker at Bard Early College High School in New York City. She said that she has seen many cases where mental health issues turn severe partly because young people did not get earlier access to therapy. 19For Derry and her mother, years of talking have led to some progress. Several years ago, her mother agreed to a compromise. 20They found a Black female therapist, which was important to both of them as a Black family. Oliver agreed that her daughter could start therapy - as long as she could sit in on the meetings. 21"It has to be someone trustworthy," Oliver said of a possible therapist for her daughter. But the therapist changed jobs after a month and Derry has not seen another therapist since. 22Trout, the school social worker in training, said she has met many parents who, like Oliver, have trust issues. 23"If we're thinking about predominantly Black and brown communities, if your interactions with social workers or mental health services or anything in that realm thus far have not been positive," Trout said, "how could you trust them with your kids?" 24Racial divide 25Statistics also show a racial divide. 26In 2021, 14 percent of white children reported seeing a therapist at some point during that year. This number is compared to 9 percent of Black children, 8 percent of Hispanic children, and 3 percent of Asian American children. These numbers come from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 27Without access to therapy, Derry has sought advice about dealing with her emotions through friends, school social workers, and the Internet. But she feels that she could gain more with professional help. 28Derry has already gotten into several colleges. One thing she is considering is what the school offers for therapy. 29I'm Anna Matteo. 30Michael Elsen-Rooney reported this story for AP. Anna Matteo adapted it for VOA Learning English. 31_______________________________________________ 32Words in This Story 33grade - n. a level of study in an elementary, middle, or secondary school that is completed by a student during one year 34therapist - n. a person trained in methods of treatment other than the use of drugs or surgery 35apartment - n. a room or set of rooms used as a dwelling 36growing pains - n. emotional difficulties or confusion experienced by a young person during the time between being a child and an adult 37counseling - n. professional guidance of the individual by utilizing psychological methods especially in collecting case history data, using various techniques of the personal interview, and testing interests and aptitudes 38frustration - n. a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs 39access - n. freedom or ability to obtain or make use of something 40transgender - adj. of, relating to, or being a person whose gender identity is opposite the sex the person was identified as having at birth 41predominantly - adv. for the most part 42realm - n. field of influence or activity 43positive - adj. marked by or indicating acceptance, approval, or affirmation 44We want to hear from you. 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