Jessica Alba's Therapy Journey: Finding Balance with Daughter Honor
Jessica Alba emphasizes the positive impact of attending therapy with her daughter Honor, acknowledging how it has helped her stay grounded and accountable
Jessica Alba Phillip Faraone/Getty Images for Baby2Baby
Jessica Alba strongly advises parents to consider attending therapy sessions with their children. During an interview with Real Simple on Tuesday, January 9, the 42-year-old actress shared her experience of deciding to try a joint therapy session with her 15-year-old daughter, Honor.
At around 11 years old, Honor and I would argue constantly over trivial things. I found it to be unenjoyable and expressed that I did not want our relationship to be strained. As her mother, I felt that my words were often perceived as an argument or as an attempt to control her. I wanted someone else to be able to communicate with her in a way that I couldn't. It was in therapy that I realized how important it was to hear Honor's perspective and it made me reflect on my own behavior.
She continued, "I totally understand and I apologize. I will work on that." These words gave her some perspective. I'm not the villain here, I'm just being a parent. She will come out of this phase, and I will be here for her.
Jessica’s daughters, Honor and Haven. Courtesy of Jessica Alba/Instagram
"The therapist helped me understand that it's normal for children to have disagreements with their parents, and as a parent, it's not always about being right or rational in those moments," she stated.
Alba is the mother of Honor, daughter Haven, 12, and son Hayes, 6, with her husband Cash Warren, whom she married in 2008. She has previously spoken about attending therapy with both Honor and Haven in an interview with Glamour UK in July 2022.
"Puberty is when I feel like it's time to have these conversations with my daughters," she stated. "That's when they start to close off and say, 'I don't want to talk anymore.' But I refuse to let that happen. We need to keep communicating. I want to be a better parent to you. How can I talk to you in a way that works for you? Don't shut me out."
Alba emphasized that a therapist can offer an objective perspective and create a safe environment for your child to honestly express what isn't working in your parenting.
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The co-founder of The Honest Company also attends individual therapy sessions.
"I go to therapy to cultivate kindness towards people I may not always see eye to eye with, because my ultimate goal is happiness," Alba shared with Real Simple. "I still believe in coexistence, and I refuse to live with anger, frustration, or annoyance towards those who hold different views. My aim is to live in peaceful harmony with everyone."
