If your child is struggling academically and needs some extra emotional support, homework therapists are here to help!

The tutoring profession is worth over $100 billion in the US, but a new trend is combining the academic help of a private tutor with the emotional support of a psychologist. Homework therapists not only help students improve their performance at school, but also help them through the growing pressure associated with upper primary and high school. With HSC trial exams just around the corner, is it time that we took school based anxiety a little more seriously?

Getting Ahead

Homework therapists give students a variety of strategies and skills to assist them in managing their workload and improve low self-confidence. The service is not only beneficial for students with identified learning and emotional needs, but is also useful for children who struggle to plan, organise and complete their homework or study on time. With the focus in schools placed increasingly on results and achievement, homework therapists believe that students are best supported through the combination of learning support and counselling, offering a safe space for them to express, and learn to manage, school-related anxiety. Unfortunately, the cost of a homework therapist in the US ranges anywhere from $200 to $600 per hour long session, so it isn’t exactly affordable…

Will It Catch On?

The homework therapist trend is yet to catch on here, but with nearly half of Australian kids stressed about school work, and mental health issues on the rise in adolescents, there’s a growing need to combine academic tuition with emotional support. The impact of school-related stress is undeniable – increased drop out rates, poor academic achievement, lack of self worth and difficulty maintaining friendships are just some of the possible consequences. It’s important to note that homework therapists deal largely with the anxiety surrounding academic performance, but ongoing stress that is caused by school can also be the result of other issues, such as difficulty being separated from parents or bullying from peers, so it’s worth investigating the root of the problem to find the best solution for your child.

The pressure placed on children of all ages to be perfect in everything they do can be relentless at times, so regularly checking in about not only their academic progress, but their mental health as well, can make a huge difference.

Would you be interested in a homework therapist for your child? Let us know in the comments!