What Role do Therapists Play in Summer?

Contributed by Laura McCuan , LMFT – Program Manager, Branches Roseville

Therapists play a particularly important and often evolving role during the summer months, especially for children and adolescents. While summer is typically framed as a time of relaxation and freedom, it can also introduce disruptions, transitions and stressors that increase emotional and behavioral challenges. Therapists help bridge this seasonal shift by providing stability, skill-building and support for both children and their families.

Providing Continuity in a Time of Change

One of the most important roles therapists play during summer is maintaining continuity. During the school year, children often rely on multiple layers of support like their teachers, counselors, structured schedules and peer interactions. When summer begins, many of these supports disappear or change.

Therapists act as a consistent, predictable presence during this transition. Regular sessions provide a familiar space where children can process changes and maintain a sense of routine. This consistency is particularly valuable for children with ADHD/ADD, anxiety, autism spectrum differences, or mood-related concerns.

Without this anchor, children may feel unmoored. Therapy sessions can serve as a home base where expectations are clear and emotional support remains steady.

Helping Manage Anxiety and Dysregulation

As discussed previously, summer can trigger increased anxiety due to lack of routine, shifting expectations, and uncertainty. Therapists help children identify, understand and manage these emotional responses.

A key part of this role involves:

• Teaching coping strategies such as breathing exercises, grounding techniques and mindfulness
• Helping children recognize early signs of stress
• Reframing anxious thoughts into more manageable perspectives
• Practicing emotional regulation skills in a safe environment

Therapists also help children understand that their reactions make sense. This validation can reduce shame and increase a child’s willingness to engage in coping strategies.

For younger children, therapists often use play therapy or creative activities to help them express feelings that are difficult to verbalize. For older children and teens, approaches such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) may focus on thought patterns and behavior changes.

Supporting Structure Without Rigidity

During summer, therapists frequently work with families to create balanced routines. Rather than imposing strict schedules, they help develop flexible frameworks that still provide predictability.

This might include:

• Designing visual schedules or daily rhythm charts
• Identifying anchor points in the day (e.g., morning routine, meal times, bedtime)
• Planning transitions and downtime intentionally
• Incorporating both preferred and necessary activities

Therapists tailor these plans based on the child’s developmental level, diagnosis and family context. They help parents avoid two extremes: overly rigid scheduling or complete lack of structure.

The goal is to create a sense of safety through predictability while still preserving the restorative aspects of summer.

Coaching Parents and Caregivers

Therapists are deeply engaged in supporting parents as well as the children. Summer often shifts caregiving demands, with parents needing to manage more of their child’s day-to-day structure.

Therapists provide:

• Practical guidance on managing behavior and transitions
• Strategies for reducing power struggles
• Tools for communication and emotional validation
• Support in setting appropriate boundaries

Parent coaching can be especially crucial for families navigating increased conflict during summer months. Therapists help caregivers interpret behavior through a developmental and emotional lens rather than viewing it as defiance.

They also help normalize challenges, reminding parents that increased dysregulation during transitions is common and manageable with the right tools.

Strengthening Social Skills

During the school year, children have built-in opportunities to practice social interaction. In the summer, these opportunities may become inconsistent or require more intentional planning.

Therapists help children:

• Build communication skills
• Practice turn-taking and perspective-taking
• Navigate peer conflict
• Increase confidence in social settings

Some therapists offer group therapy sessions during summer, which can be particularly effective. These groups provide a structured and supportive environment for practicing social skills in real time.

For children who struggle socially, this kind of guided practice can prevent isolation and reduce anxiety about peer interactions.

Preparing for Transitions (Both Into and Out of Summer)

Therapists play an important role in helping children prepare for transitions — not just the beginning of summer, but also the return to school.

At the start of summer, therapy may focus on:

• Processing the end of the school year
• Adjusting expectations
• Planning how to handle unstructured time

Toward the end of summer, attention often shifts to:

• Re-establishing routines
• Managing back-to-school anxiety
• Practicing organizational and executive functioning skills
• Setting goals for the upcoming school year

This forward-looking approach reduces the shock of sudden change and helps children feel more prepared and confident.

Addressing Emerging or Escalating Concerns

Summer can sometimes reveal challenges that were less visible during the school year. Without structured demands, underlying difficulties may become more noticeable.

For example:

• A child who appeared fine in school may show increased impulsivity or emotional dysregulation
• Anxiety may surface in new ways without the distraction of busy schedules
• Family conflicts may intensify due to increased time spent together

Therapists use this time to assess and address these concerns. In some cases, summer becomes an opportunity for more intensive intervention because schedules are less constrained.

This might include:

• Increasing session frequency
• Trying new therapeutic approaches

Coordinating with other providers (e.g., psychiatrists, occupational therapists)

Supporting Identity, Growth and Confidence

Beyond managing challenges, therapists also use summer as a time to foster growth. Without academic pressures, children may be more open to exploring personal interests, strengths and identity.

Therapists help children:

• Build self-esteem
• Explore hobbies and passions
• Develop a stronger sense of self
• Reflect on personal achievements and goals

This strengths-based work can be especially meaningful, as children often define themselves by school performance during the academic year. Summer offers a chance to broaden that identity.

Incorporating Creativity and Flexibility in Therapy

Therapy itself may look different during summer. Sessions often become more flexible and creative to match the season’s tone.

Examples include:

• Outdoor therapy sessions
• Incorporating games, art, or movement
• Using real-life summer situations as learning opportunities
• Practicing skills in more naturalistic settings

This adaptability helps keep children engaged while reinforcing therapeutic goals in a way that feels relevant to their daily lives.

Acting as a Bridge Between Systems

Therapists often serve as a connector between home, school, and other systems. During summer, communication with schools may pause, but therapists help preserve continuity by:

• Documenting progress and ongoing needs
• Helping families prepare information for the next school year
• Recommending accommodations or supports

This ensures that gains made during therapy are not lost when school resumes.

Therapists Are Key To Growth

Therapists play a multifaceted and essential role during the summer months. Rather than stepping back when school is out, they often become even more central in helping children and families navigate change.

They provide stability in a less structured time, teach coping and emotional regulation skills, support parents, and help children continue developing socially and emotionally. They also use summer as an opportunity for growth, reflection and preparation for future transitions.

Ultimately, the therapist’s role in summer is about balance and helping children enjoy the freedom of the season while maintaining the structure and support they need to feel safe, regulated and confident.

About Laura McCuan, LMFT: Laura is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with expertise in anxiety, relationships, communication, adolescents, family systems, emotional regulation, evidence-based interventions and client-centered care.