Are therapists doing unmasked therapy for kids with anxiety about covid stuff yet?

[Anonymous]

My 7-year-old, along with some other issues, has been diagnosed with anxiety. This seems to be exacerbated by covid-restriction stuff. Without getting into incredible detail, kid gets anxious if she hasn't had a covid test within a week, always wants to know if she can enter a store without a mask, is worried that she will make others sick (when she himself is not ill), etc.

We tried in-person therapy, but kid and therapist were both masked, and kid wouldn't really talk much. The requirement at the time was that medical professionals had to wear masks, as did patients, so there was nothing that therapist could do. Also I live in an area (DC) where it's basically anathema to request someone else NOT mask. It didn't seem like much was being accomplished, so we stopped.

I'm not trying to be all anti-masking and so forth, but the mask seem to actually be getting in the way of effective therapy for my child. I wouldn't generalize to anyone else; just talking about my own kid. Basically I think my kid needs normalcy in order to receive help.

Before I go and try again to find a therapist (a time-consuming task), are therapists still requiring masks, or are there any that amenable to not masking?

[Anonymous]

I'm curious why you think the mask was the barrier to them talking, particularly the mask on the therapist.

I'm a special educator, I work with a lot of kids with anxiety. I haven't seen a difference in how much any of my students talk to me based on whether I wear a mask. There are some kids with major articulation problems who talk less when they are masked, perhaps because they have had experiences where people can't understand them due to the mask, but my mask doesn't influence them.

Not engaging in therapy is a pretty common problem, and was before masks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why you think the mask was the barrier to them talking, particularly the mask on the therapist.

I'm a special educator, I work with a lot of kids with anxiety. I haven't seen a difference in how much any of my students talk to me based on whether I wear a mask. There are some kids with major articulation problems who talk less when they are masked, perhaps because they have had experiences where people can't understand them due to the mask, but my mask doesn't influence them.

Not engaging in therapy is a pretty common problem, and was before masks.

I think because the kid has specific anxiety around covid (as well as other things), that a constant reminder of covid could impede their ability to not be anxious about covid. It's pretty straightforward.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why you think the mask was the barrier to them talking, particularly the mask on the therapist.

I'm a special educator, I work with a lot of kids with anxiety. I haven't seen a difference in how much any of my students talk to me based on whether I wear a mask. There are some kids with major articulation problems who talk less when they are masked, perhaps because they have had experiences where people can't understand them due to the mask, but my mask doesn't influence them.

Not engaging in therapy is a pretty common problem, and was before masks.

I think because the kid has specific anxiety around covid (as well as other things), that a constant reminder of covid could impede their ability to not be anxious about covid. It's pretty straightforward.

If the anxiety is around covid, then covid is going to come up in the therapy sessions. The goal isn't to go to therapy and avoid being reminded of the thing you're anxious about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why you think the mask was the barrier to them talking, particularly the mask on the therapist.

I'm a special educator, I work with a lot of kids with anxiety. I haven't seen a difference in how much any of my students talk to me based on whether I wear a mask. There are some kids with major articulation problems who talk less when they are masked, perhaps because they have had experiences where people can't understand them due to the mask, but my mask doesn't influence them.

Not engaging in therapy is a pretty common problem, and was before masks.

I think because the kid has specific anxiety around covid (as well as other things), that a constant reminder of covid could impede their ability to not be anxious about covid. It's pretty straightforward.

If the anxiety is around covid, then covid is going to come up in the therapy sessions. The goal isn't to go to therapy and avoid being reminded of the thing you're anxious about.

So, getting back to the point, are therapists still requiring masks?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why you think the mask was the barrier to them talking, particularly the mask on the therapist.

I'm a special educator, I work with a lot of kids with anxiety. I haven't seen a difference in how much any of my students talk to me based on whether I wear a mask. There are some kids with major articulation problems who talk less when they are masked, perhaps because they have had experiences where people can't understand them due to the mask, but my mask doesn't influence them.

Not engaging in therapy is a pretty common problem, and was before masks.

I think because the kid has specific anxiety around covid (as well as other things), that a constant reminder of covid could impede their ability to not be anxious about covid. It's pretty straightforward.

If I had a fear of violent dogs, and my therapist had a violent dog barking in another room the entire time I was attempting therapy, I might not have the best success in overcoming my fear of violent dogs.
If the anxiety is around covid, then covid is going to come up in the therapy sessions. The goal isn't to go to therapy and avoid being reminded of the thing you're anxious about.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why you think the mask was the barrier to them talking, particularly the mask on the therapist.

I'm a special educator, I work with a lot of kids with anxiety. I haven't seen a difference in how much any of my students talk to me based on whether I wear a mask. There are some kids with major articulation problems who talk less when they are masked, perhaps because they have had experiences where people can't understand them due to the mask, but my mask doesn't influence them.

Not engaging in therapy is a pretty common problem, and was before masks.

I think because the kid has specific anxiety around covid (as well as other things), that a constant reminder of covid could impede their ability to not be anxious about covid. It's pretty straightforward.

If the anxiety is around covid, then covid is going to come up in the therapy sessions. The goal isn't to go to therapy and avoid being reminded of the thing you're anxious about.

*with proper quoting this time*
If I had a fear of violent dogs, and my therapist had a violent dog barking in another room the entire time I was attempting therapy, I might not have the best success in overcoming my fear of violent dogs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why you think the mask was the barrier to them talking, particularly the mask on the therapist.

I'm a special educator, I work with a lot of kids with anxiety. I haven't seen a difference in how much any of my students talk to me based on whether I wear a mask. There are some kids with major articulation problems who talk less when they are masked, perhaps because they have had experiences where people can't understand them due to the mask, but my mask doesn't influence them.

Not engaging in therapy is a pretty common problem, and was before masks.

I am a parent with children, one of whom is typical and one of whom has severe anxiety. Both behave differently when they are not wearing masks. When my younger one's school went mask optional and he stopped wearing a mask, his 'frustration' behaviors massivly and quickly decreased when other variables were unchanged. We think we felt better understood.

OP, I have heard about some practices in Virginia that are mask optional, but I do not know of any specifics. My child's therapist in Maryland insists on wearing a mask outside. The issue is real, and I'm very sorry you are dealing with this. I think you are describing a situation that is the tip of the iceberg of what behaviors we are going to be dealing with (as a society and especially in this area) for years to come.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why you think the mask was the barrier to them talking, particularly the mask on the therapist.

I'm a special educator, I work with a lot of kids with anxiety. I haven't seen a difference in how much any of my students talk to me based on whether I wear a mask. There are some kids with major articulation problems who talk less when they are masked, perhaps because they have had experiences where people can't understand them due to the mask, but my mask doesn't influence them.

Not engaging in therapy is a pretty common problem, and was before masks.

I think because the kid has specific anxiety around covid (as well as other things), that a constant reminder of covid could impede their ability to not be anxious about covid. It's pretty straightforward.

If the anxiety is around covid, then covid is going to come up in the therapy sessions. The goal isn't to go to therapy and avoid being reminded of the thing you're anxious about.

So, getting back to the point, are therapists still requiring masks?

Our therapist at least dropped the requirement for my son so that he does not need to wear his mask, although she still wears hers. He is only there for a few sessions, though. If he needed more therapy I would be pushing hard for the therapist to remove her mask, or I would look for someone willing to be mask free. I am 100% sure that these therapists don't wear them socially, so I don't understand the need to be so hard core with kids who would benefit from seeing their full face. Full disclosure, I am a preschool teacher who does not wear a mask, and who noticed a huge, positive difference in the shy kids as soon as they were allowed to remove their masks. This is why it's important to me.

[Anonymous]

We have an in person therapist in Maryland who is not masking. We’ve also had quite a bit of teletherapy during this time, which to me is preferable to in person with masks, but my kiddo is older, so that might make teletherapy easier.

[Anonymous]

All learned behavior. Stop freaking out your child.

[Anonymous]

I understand completely. My slightly older child struggled terribly with masks. She was 100% compliant, but it really did a number on her social skills, confidence, and anxiety. I hope you find a good solution.

[Anonymous]

We are in MoCo and my child's therapist hasn't worn a mask since the county dropped the mandate in the spring. If the client wears one, she wears one. If not, then she doesn't wear one. It's so nice to be able to see her face!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I'm curious why you think the mask was the barrier to them talking, particularly the mask on the therapist.

I'm a special educator, I work with a lot of kids with anxiety. I haven't seen a difference in how much any of my students talk to me based on whether I wear a mask. There are some kids with major articulation problems who talk less when they are masked, perhaps because they have had experiences where people can't understand them due to the mask, but my mask doesn't influence them.

Not engaging in therapy is a pretty common problem, and was before masks.

I think because the kid has specific anxiety around covid (as well as other things), that a constant reminder of covid could impede their ability to not be anxious about covid. It's pretty straightforward.

If the anxiety is around covid, then covid is going to come up in the therapy sessions. The goal isn't to go to therapy and avoid being reminded of the thing you're anxious about.

*with proper quoting this time*
If I had a fear of violent dogs, and my therapist had a violent dog barking in another room the entire time I was attempting therapy, I might not have the best success in overcoming my fear of violent dogs.

Unless it was exposure therapy. Eventually, the scary dog can be in the room with you and you won't be afraid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All learned behavior. Stop freaking out your child.

Of course, it's always the parent's fault.