General Mental Health / June 30, 2025

Therapist Self-Efficacy: The Hidden Superpower Behind Strong Parent Engagement

Therapist building confidence to engage parents effectively in child therapy

Table of contents

Feeling Stuck with Parents? You’re Not Alone

Have you ever paused outside your office door, hesitating before calling a caregiver in? You know involving parents matters—but you’re unsure how to start, how to explain, or whether you’ll say the “right” thing.

Here’s the truth: it’s not a lack of skill holding you back. It’s likely a gap in therapist self-efficacy—your internal belief in your ability to do this well.

Research shows that this confidence factor is more important than experience or training alone when it comes to engaging caregivers. And the good news? You can strengthen it.

This post guides you through what therapist self-efficacy truly means, why it unlocks better outcomes with parents, and how you can begin cultivating it today.

What Is Therapist Self-Efficacy?

In simple terms, therapist self-efficacy is your belief in your ability to manage the emotional and relational demands of therapy effectively, especially when things get complex.

A 2023 study by Vaziri Line & Ray in the International Journal of Play Therapy found that therapists who reported higher self-efficacy had fewer perceived barriers to parent involvement. They were more likely to engage caregivers, even in brief sessions, and felt less overwhelmed by time, stress, or resistance (read the study here).

The takeaway? If you feel confident navigating tough conversations, you’re more likely to initiate them. Self-efficacy is the hidden superpower behind strong parent engagement.

Why Confidence Comes Before Complexity

You don’t need to have all the answers to be effective—you need to believe you can show up with clarity and compassion.

In our day-to-day work, emotional labor runs high. Parent dynamics can be messy, especially when grief, trauma, or conflict are in the room. If you lack self-efficacy, your nervous system often says, “Let’s just avoid this today.”

Think of it like scaffolding: therapist self-efficacy creates a stable foundation that allows you to layer on more advanced skills—such as motivational interviewing or trauma-informed parent consultations—without crumbling under pressure.

For example, a therapist named Jordan may know what to say when a parent minimizes their child’s anxiety. But without self-efficacy, Jordan may shrink in the moment, nod silently, and miss the chance to educate. Confidence would’ve made all the difference.

Four Ways to Strengthen Therapist Self-Efficacy

Below are four therapist-tested methods we use throughout Seven Stones tools and guides:

1. Self-Checks That Normalize the Struggle

Start each week with a reflective prompt:

“On a scale of 1–5, how confident do I feel navigating parent dynamics right now?”
“What part of caregiver communication challenges me most?”

This isn’t about rating your worth. It’s about tracking your growth and recognizing where support is needed.

2. Practice with Scripts and Confidence Builders

Use brief scripts that center your clinical purpose:

“In our play therapy session today, we saw themes of control and safety come up. This gives us clues about what your child is working through.”

Try a mini consult format to rehearse tone, pacing, and clarity. Repeat it until it feels like second nature.

3. Reframe Your Inner Dialogue

Instead of:

“I’m not good at consults.”

Try:

“I’m practicing how to lead caregiver conversations with more confidence.”

Words matter. The more you affirm your growth, the more your brain aligns with it.

4. Surround Yourself With Affirming Tools

Choose materials that:

Offer low-pressure, high-impact language
Validate real-world emotional labor
Equip you to show up as a growing, not perfect, clinician

This is exactly why every Seven Stones resource includes “Confidence Skill Boost” callouts—small, high-yield practices therapists can apply in the moment.

How We’re Putting This Into Practice

The Game On: A Therapist’s Guide to Integrating Video Games in Therapy mini guide is our first downloadable resource, intentionally built around therapist self-efficacy.

It includes:

Reflective self-checks on page 1
Parent consult scripts for explaining Minecraft or Roblox clinically
Language tips that reframe insecurity intoa growth mindset

Our goal is simple: give you tools that help you feel capable, not just informed.

💌 Want the Game On Mini Guide Sent Straight to Your Inbox?

We’re putting the final touches on our free downloadable guide:
🎮 Game On: A Therapist’s Guide to Integrating Video Games in Therapy

It’s designed to boost your therapist self-efficacy and give you scripts, strategies, and research-backed tools to confidently engage caregivers—especially when it comes to Minecraft, Roblox, and digital play.

✨ Sign up below to be the first to get it when it drops:

We’ll only send helpful tools, never spam. Unsubscribe any time.

🧠 Want to Learn More Right Now?

Check out these research-backed resources to keep building confidence and connection:

APA: Building Your Self-Efficacy (American Psychological Association)
Why Parent Involvement Matters in Therapy (National Child Traumatic Stress Network)
International Journal of Play Therapy – Therapist Self-Efficacy Study

Pruitt, MS, LIMHP, CPC

Vanessa Pruitt, MS, LIMHP, CPC, with a Master's in Clinical Psychology, leads a thriving group practice, Alfrey and Pruitt Counseling, and specializes in transformative mental health care. Her expertise spans trauma-focused treatments like play therapy, EMDR, and attachment-based interventions. At Seven Stones Mental Health, Vanessa's goal is to empower therapists and clients by enhancing understanding, collaboration, and promoting positive outcomes in therapy. Her approach is dedicated to fostering resilience, growth, and empowerment for a diverse and neurodivergent community.