How Counselling Can Help Parents Cope With Mental Health Struggles
What does counselling look like for new parents (and how can it help them to relieve the mental load)? Parenting is often described as a journey that takes parents through ups and downs, growth and confusion, and many other obstacles and triumphs. Although there are beautiful parts of parenthood for many parents, the challenging moments can be very challenging. In many cases, parents are at a higher risk of chronic stress, mental health conditions, and emotional pitfalls. For this reason, counselling exists as a helpful way for us as parents to find effective and compassionate support.
We’re joined by BetterHelp: the people who make it easier to take control of your mental health. Read on to find out more about the benefits of receiving counselling as a parent.
Get 20% off your first month of online counselling with BetterHelp when you use code: happity20
This blog is a part of a paid partnership with BetterHelp – our Brand Partner for May. As a BetterHelp affiliate, we receive compensation from BetterHelp if you purchase products or services through the links provided. This compensation will go towards helping more families connect with baby and toddler classes.
Common Mental Health Challenges For Parents
If you’ve noticed you’re not feeling as bright and happy as you might have once felt, you’re not alone. 48% of parents state their stress is overwhelming on a daily basis, compared to only 26% of other adults. Below are some of the common challenges you might be familiar with as a parent.
Anxiety And Depression
Anxiety and depression are the most common mental illnesses in the UK, but they are also highly common in parents. In the UK, 68% of women and 57% of men with mental illnesses are parents. Symptoms of these conditions can include, but are not limited to:
- Changes in appetite
- Changes in sleep patterns
- Physical symptoms, such as headaches, stomach pains, and sweating
- Difficulty finding motivation for self-care and daily tasks
- A sense of impending doom
- Anxiety or panic attacks
- Frequent worrying
- Racing thoughts
- Restlessness and difficulty relaxing
- Fatigue and exhaustion
- Confusion and memory loss (in severe cases of stress)
- A prolonged sadness, apathy, or melancholy state
- Irritability
These symptoms can make caring for children and yourself difficult. Some parents may have the sense that they are only able to attend to their children’s needs and not their own.
Parenting Stress
Parenting can be stressful, and you may have noticed that each stage of raising a child can involve its own challenges. For example, our kids may start to ask lots of questions around the toddler years (there’s a reason people refer to it as the “terrible twos!”). When stress continues to mount and isn’t addressed, it can lead to a risk of physical illness, anxiety, and depression. Although some amount of stress can be normal, try to remind yourself that stress can be addressed, and counselling is one way to find support. You don’t have to have a mental illness or diagnosis to go to therapy.
Relationship Challenges
Having kids can change the dynamics of one’s relationships, including new connections. You might not have the same amount of time you used to have, or you and your partner might start to argue as stress rises in the household. When you don’t have an outlet to communicate about these challenges, the stress might cause a breakup, divorce, or frequent arguments, which can be unhealthy for you and your children. Studies show that a child’s environment is most frequently the cause of behavioural issues.
How Counselling Can Be A Useful Resource For You As Parents
Counselling can be a helpful way for parents to cope with stress, mental health challenges, or emotional dysregulation. In counselling, your counsellor can teach you coping mechanisms that help you through parenting milestones. Research has found that parents going to therapy may actually help children with their anxiety, which can, in turn, support the parents’ anxiety symptoms. In counselling, you may learn the following skills:
- Conflict resolution for families
- Emotional regulation
- How to talk to your children about difficult topics
- How to set boundaries
- Setting and enforcing rules
- Coping with changes in a child’s identity
- Helping children through relationships
- Unique challenges like teen pregnancy or family trauma
- How to cope with a traumatic event like divorce or loss as a family
- How to work through stress on a daily basis
- Mindfulness techniques
- Ways to help your kids learn about mental health
- Ways to connect your physical and mental health
What Is Counselling Like?
If you’ve never been to counselling before, you might not know what to expect. Counselling generally involves a client and a therapist, though some therapists support couples or families, as well. In your first session, your counsellor may ask you about your goals for therapy, your recent symptoms, and what you are most concerned about. If you’ve done therapy before, they may ask you what has worked for you in the past. Together, you can draft a treatment plan unique to your situation.
Mental Health Support Options
If you’re seeking counselling in the UK as parents, you have many options available. However, barriers can come up to finding in-person support, so even if you don’t have a therapist in your area, you might try options like BetterHelp, which allow you to get matched with a counsellor online.
Online therapy platforms are cost-effective ways for parents like you to get support. In addition, studies back up these platforms. In one study, internet-based therapy increased parents’ ability to emotionally regulate, which improved stress within their families. Parents also found the intervention more convenient for their family needs.
Takeaway
Parenting is a unique journey that many of us face in life. You’re not a “bad parent” if you start to struggle with any milestones or challenges during parenthood. Millions of people face challenges like postpartum depression, anxiety, stress, and conflict within their families. For support, consider seeking a counsellor online or in your area to build a plan to restructure your life in a way that works for you.
Thanks To BetterHelp
Starting therapy can feel overwhelming, but BetterHelp makes it easy. Whether you’re navigating a tough time, working on personal growth, or just need extra support, you can fill out a brief questionnaire and get matched with a credentialed therapist in as little as 48 hours. With a network of over 5,000 credentialed therapists, we help you find someone who fits your unique needs, preferences, and goals. If your first match isn’t the right fit, switching is simple, so you can connect with the right support without the stress.
No referrals, no waiting room—just flexible, professional counselling from the comfort of your home. Live sessions are available via video, phone, or live chat, and you can message your counsellor anytime. Now you can focus on what matters most: getting the help you deserve.
Get 20% off your first month of online counselling with BetterHelp when you use code: happity20
Want to get out and about, have fun with your baby or toddler, and meet other parents?
Search Happity to find everything that’s happening for the under-5s in your local area – from music and singing classes, to messy play, arts and crafts, baby massage, gymnastics and more. Simply enter your postcode and child’s age to search, and then book your spot in a few taps. Enjoy dedicated fun time with your little one, watch their skills develop, and make friends at the same time. Mums, dads, grandparents and carers will all find something to love!
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