It blew our mind when we discovered financial therapists and family assistants exist. But when we read about homework therapists—mental health experts/tutor hybrids—a new bar was set for professional helpfulness. Real talk? We know law firm partners who, thanks to the Common Core curriculum, are completely stumped by second grade math. We also know they endure screaming fights with second graders as a result. Who wouldn’t need therapy after that?
Enter homework therapists: Often clinical psychologists, they soothe students’ anxiety with everything from mindfulness breathing techniques to lavender-scented “stress dough” while simultaneously helping them stay on task for class. Since their therapeutic backgrounds are at the forefront, nothing related to a student’s social-emotional situation, from clique culture to parental pressure, is off-limits. The endgame, however, is always to reduce stress and optimize academic performance.
The fees for such a service can be astronomical; some charge up to $600 for around an hour, according to The New York Times. But these professionals motivate student-clients in ways parents sometimes can’t—at least not without facing destructive, door-slamming battles. Reports The Times: “Tutors make themselves available for last-minute interventions before midterms or when writing projects are due. They respond to texts and emails and often send their own, nudging students to finish a homework assignment or stay positive before and during a big exam.”