Do You Need a Homework Therapist?

I think homework therapy is a good idea because people who take advanced classes re usually the ones with a work load of homework like myself and tend to procrastinate every now and then and get overwhelmed very easily. I feel that teachers sometimes think that their class may be the only advanced class that we have and so they feel like piling us with work because their is a huge difference between regular classes and advanced. I feel that I would benefit from having a homework therapist because that would help stay focused and on track knowing I have that support or someone kinda checking up on me from afar and letting me do things on my own while relieving some of the pressure and stress off my shoulders.

I’m a pretty normal high school kid. I play sports, and like to do things over the weekend to have fun. So of course I have been stressed out by homework and school in general. Who doesn’t? This being said, I have never felt like I had so much work to do that there was no way I could get it done. Most of my stress comes from me putting the work off until the last minute, but even then I still feel like I can get it done. Getting a tutor/ therapist to me seems silly. I mean a tutor is fine because someone just might not be good in the class, but a therapist combined with a tutor is too much. These are high schoolers. So they should know how to manage their work and be able to function with stress in their lives. I can see why people need things to help deal with stress, but this seems needless and very expensive. They mentioned in the article that parents pay between 200 and 600 dollars for the tutors/ therapists, and that combined with needing regular visits is outrageous, and when the parents are paying for things like school coaching in kindergarten it is absurd. They are basically teaching their kids that if they ever have stress they should run to their therapists to help them. Insead of teaching them this they should show them how to manage stress and stay positive through it.

I feel the burdens of never ending homework every day during the school year. It can be very frustrating, but I try to find ways to deal with that. These include not doing all of my homework for the week at once, and putting my phone in a different room. Students become stressed out when there is an expectation for them to well in everything, when realistically, that isn't possible. Many students are given this expectation, and then do worse in their studies, because of their increased amount of stress. I think that homework therapy is a good idea, but only for those whose families can afford it. I would not benefit from a therapist because it would cost my family way too much money, and I think that I have enough people around me already that help me out with school, and dealing with stress. I have teachers, parents, and my own self, and with a combination of the three, I have been set on a better path.

I often feel extremely overwhelmed by homework and studying, some teachers forget that we have other classes to do work for also and give us 8 page packets that can take up to two hours to do just for one class. If all teachers have this mentality especially if your already talking difficult classes it can completely over whelm you and the homework can completely take over all of your free time or even your sleep time. My freshman year i did the IB (International Baccalaureate) program which is 8 a-day, b-day classes, all honors or AP. All of my teachers at this time gave me around two hours of homework after every class claiming "you're honors you should be able to do this" when i reached the point that i was giving up sleep to get homework all done, i knew there was something wrong with the school system on what they were expecting from us. In that time i could of greatly benefited by having a homework therapist, to calm me down at times, help give me ideas on how to handle the stress, and tips on how to stay organized.

I have definitely experienced the type of stress surrounding home work and studying as expressed in the article. I think most students would attest the same. I think students get stressed out about managing the home work they receive in al their classes, its hard to find time to do that when you have to consider sports and service clubs and personal time, all aspects of life essential to a well rounded individual. after spending 7 hours at school and potential having 2 hours of homework, thats almost your whole day spent forcing on just one aspect of your life, leaving almost no time for the more enjoyable parts of life. I think I would certainly benefit from homework therapy. They would definitely help me with time management and procrastination and not getting overwhelmed to the point where I just avoid it was a whole. I think they should try and implement home work therapists in schools in the future. This would help improve the quality of life and the quality of grades of numerous students.

Homework is something that stresses me out and overwhelms me like no other. However, I know that homework is necessary and i must turn it in. My motivation is good grades and a good future. I try to plan things out in advance so i don't get stuck trying to do too much all in one night. I think the idea of grades stresses students out more than anything. A student will do anything to achieve a good grade and this sometimes means not learning material and just completing it for a grade. I do think therapy is good but i do not think it is something i would seek. therapy is there for help and to guide students along the way. Who wouldnt want that if it was an option? I don't think it would benefit me because the therapist isnt completing my work and thats what i struggle most with. I think parents play a huge roll in teaching their kids to manage time and stay organized. But i also believe i adapted into these things as i saw it truly does help.

Do I ever feel overwhelmed by homework and studying? Of course I am, that’s hardly a question. There are many things that contribute to this cloud of stress that constantly surrounds me. Maybe it’s volleyball practice from 4-8pm everyday after school. Maybe it’s the AP exams looming right around the corner. Maybe it’s the stress of college. Maybe it’s drive to achieve good scores on the SAT and ACT. Maybe it’s the fact that teachers are oblivious to the fact that a: you have a life outside of school and b: their class is not your only class. There are so many factors that contribute to student stress, it’s unreal. There are many ways that I cope with stress, some include tea, books, and sitting outside. Another thing that calms me and diminishes stress is Spotify. Just like in the article, I have playlists that depict my moods and emotions towards my homework. I have lighthearted, happy playlists, I have depressing, tear-inducing playlists, I have Disney playlists, I have playlists that instantly make me want to dance, the list goes on. But the main way I cope with stress is volleyball. Volleyball is my happy place, when I play, I forget about the hours upon hours of homework waiting for me at home. Volleyball is what keeps me sane, I honestly don’t know how people who don’t play sports/have hobbies cope with stress. I think I’d benefit from a homework therapist, but for more of the emotional aspect of it. I just need someone to be there for me and listen to my rants.

I think that I am definitely overwhelmed by studying, not necessarily homework. There are a lot of times where I feel like I am never going to get anything done. To deal with stress, I time manage my schedule and take breaks as I am doing to do work so I do not overwhelm and overwork myself. I do not think that students need to have a homework therapist because we need to learn to be independent and start to do things for ourselves as we pay for college. Mistakes happen and people need to accept them. Referring back to the article, when the girl starts crying about getting a B, she needs to accept the fact that sometimes people mess up, and a B is still a mediocre grade. Getting a B will not be the death of you, and if you cannot take a B, then you are really going to struggle controlling your emotions in college. I think that homework in some cases is essential to classes that need practice. But if you are just giving us busy work, nobody is going to benefit or get practice or retain the material from doing pointless work. I do not think I would benefit from having a homework therapist because I know how to handle large amounts of stress and I ave dealt with it for a large portion of my life. I do not think that it is fair to people in lower-class communities compared to the children living in Manhattan that do not have access to high-quality tutors and professionals.

Just yesterday, I came home from school with more homework that what seemed manageable. From tests and quizzes to normal book work, I felt that I had more on my plate than I could possibly get done. As soon as I stepped foot in the door, I went straight to my room to knock out as much homework as possible in the hour and a half window I had before leaving for swim practice. I worked right up to the time I had to leave, went to practice, stressed about my homework all the way through practice, rushed home from the pool, and went back to my homework as soon as I got home. Having said all of this, I don't think a homework therapist would have helped me, especially at $200-$600 dollars per session, like the article states. I did everything I could to stay calm, from diffusing essential oils, taking minute long breaks when I started to feel too overwhelmed, to putting my phone in another room to avoid distraction. The only thing that can change students' feelings towards homework is teachers. While I understand homework is sometimes necessary, there are certainly times where it is doing more harm than good, and that is when teachers need to work with students. For example, my English teacher changed the class plans after students expressed to her the extreme amount of stress they have been feeling. Nothing will change students wanting 4.0's and high SAT scores like the article mentions, but teachers have the power to help with relating stress; even more than homework therapists

When I find myself overwhelmed by the abundance of homework assigned in one night, basically complete chaos, my mind goes blank. All productivity is thrown out the window, and my calm efficient manner is replaced with rage and rapid fire anxiety. One of my family members always rushes to my side, using assuring words like "It'll be okay just calm down" but these soft reassurances only seem to infuriate me more. "It will not be okay!" I snap back "Does it look like I'm okay?!" Although with that kind of attitude I didn't deserve to be helped, but they continue to stick by me anyways until stress attack is over. Teenagers never want to take advice from their parents, they are far too ignorant and selfish sometimes to learn from the people that know us best. That's the beauty of having a homework therapist, you take their advice on coping mechanisms on how to deal with stress and balancing work, because it's coming from someone that isn't your mom or dad telling you to chill. It's also more effective because all while getting your stress out and learning to deal with it, your actually learning. As the article states, these therapists help find ways to help you manage your work load with things as simple as a to-do list. If you have the money and the resources to have a homework therapist I think it's a wonderful idea, I know I would do it to spare my family from my weekly stress bombs.

During the school day, I have classes, some of which alternate every other day. This change in schedule has been difficult, but with time, I have become accustomed to it. Sometimes, I find my homework and projects to be overwhelming, and to calm myself down, I plan ahead. I plan, in my little daily calendar, for the due date and make time for the assignments before the due date. If I wait until the last minute, I know my stress level will highly increase and I think this is the problem with many other teenagers. Procrastination. When teachers give us work, we often start to panic. What if I don't have enough time? How will I be able to find time with all of my other activities? The best way I plan for the future is by allotting a time frame for my schoolwork and try to make sure it doesn't interfere with my other activities. In the article, many students have homework tutors to help them allot their time and help prepare them for college. Parents are willing to pay up to $600 per hour, which is excessive. Kids need to learn on their own how to manage their time and will not always have someone in their lives to do it for them. I have a math tutor who helps me with a certain class, and class tutors are ok. I don't think parents need to pay that much money, when they can help their children manage stress and worry before big due dates.

As my sophomore year comes to an end, I have started to think about the classes I am going to take next year. As a junior, I would like to take as many AP and honors classes as I can. With this in mind, I need to consider the fact that I am a huge procrastinator when it comes to homework. As my deadlines for homework crawl nearer and nearer, I grow more stressed about the assignment. I end up dealing with stress by avoiding the assignment entirely until the night before. In the article, Dr. Hillman, a clinical psychologist from New York, states that worry can morph into the avoidance of an assignment. I think I am a perfect example of this. Dr. Hillman later discusses different ways students can deal with stress. Some students listen to music, play with putty, or use meditation as a way to deal with stress. If I am going to sign up for demanding classes next year, procrastinating my homework will not be an option. I am going to try to utilize these different ways to deal with stress in hopes that I can take difficult classes while still maintaining my sanity.

I get overwhelmed by work and studying often. It’s not that the work is difficult, but I procrastinate so easy work piles up and becomes stressful. I don’t really have any strategies to de-stress I just kinda push through until it’s over. I think having a homework might be helpful for me to develop strategies to avoid procrastination, however the price of it outweighs any benefit it might have. The article says sessions cost 200-600$, which is more than a regular therapy session, which usually cost around 40-100$. I can easily look up videos on how to do a math problem or strategies to de-stress online for 0$. I think for the people who can afford it, it might be a lifesaver. If a kid has a learning disability or attentional issues, their intelligence might be overshadowed by the disability. If they had someone, like a homework therapist, to give them a stepping stone, they could perform much better in school. I think everyone deserves the chance to succeed academically, but it seems unfair that some kids might get ahead just because they have money. I don’t mean kids with disabilities or attentional issues, I mean the kids who have average to high intelligence whose parents are well endowed. This might be me being jealous because I can’t throw money at my stress to make it go away. I think some amount of stress in school is necessary to prepare you for the real world, where you won’t always have someone to hold your hand. At least until job therapists become a thing.

Homework for most American students and I can sometimes be overwhelming especially when you are dealing with it from several classes or teachers. However, sometimes homework can be positive. Stress surroundign homework is definitely a debate going on right not due to the immense amount of students complaining about the workload. For example, the sophomore student in the article is worried about the long-term project not being done or even being bad. The simple reminder may not be what is causing the stress, may its something else, something such as procrastination. I know as a student that we always don’t finish on time and even have to make up the most stupid excuses just to get an extra day for the work, but procrastination may be causing the stress. Pulling that all-nighter just to finish your project causes your mind and body to work overtime, which leads to stress. I have definitely felt this, especially when writing an AP World paper. I asked my friend to proof read it but instead she told me that I did the whole entire thing wrong so I had to start over and finish it again all in one night. The procrastination of not finishing it sooner caused me stress of not finishing it. Homework may not cause stress it may be your own actions. Students sometimes need a break from homework, you can trust me on that one, but the occasional heavy workload can be positive. Even projects just like the one that the sophomore dealt with in the article.

This may seem unnecessary, but as a student I feel that I, and probably many others, need this. It's not so much that I can't do the homework, I just won't. I end up getting caught up in pretty much anything else. Just this weekend I had quite a few assignments to complete and did absolutely none of them. I told both my mom and a close friend to remind me and pressure me to do it, and they did this, but I just kept making excuses. I thought at first a homework therapist sounded dumb, but the more I read the article the more I saw that it was primarily for the students mental health rather than just doing the work. It addresses the underlying problem of school, stress. Therapists are giving students coping mechanisms to deal with stress and get work done. Tutoring organizations are acting on this by hiring more staff with mental health degrees. This can be extremely beneficial to the students, and I hope schools can start implementing this kind of help. The job of a tutor is evolving into more of a mental health associate dealing with teen problems. Through the sudden rise of homework therapists, comes a lack of regulation and some unorthodox methods like aromatherapy and mantras. This I hope can be amended by people learning more about this job and what it entails.

Part 2: I really like the idea of students having increased access to various time managing techniques and having a solid support system of someone other than their parents, who from personal experience can be a source of all the stress students put on themselves, to help and encourage them through the difficult time consuming school assignments. I think as students we all hit a wall and find ourselves drowning in work at some point and we just need that extra help and encouragement from someone else to get us going again, but having to pay $600 for that is insane. A lot of us are saving for college and don’t have a couple hundred extra dollars to pay for someone to make Spotify playlists and ‘glitter globes’ with. Instead of having to shell out $600 for someone to tell us that we need to take a break from all the work and calm down, our schools should have more guidance counselors and resources for students to use so that they don’t feel alone and like they’re constantly drowning in their school work.

The idea of a homework therapist is downright crazy. How is it that teenagers have so much work, that they need therapy in order to cope! Yes, grades are important. But if it comes down to that extreme, where they are the focal point of ones existence, something must give. If a teenager must choose between high stress courses and their over all well being, we know that there is something wrong with the educational system. I am awed by what I just read, and hope that in the coming years, I am taking high level courses in high school, that I never come to that point. I would sooner drop a course than risk my sleep and health just for another check on an application.

Homework therapists are becoming more and more common, and are prominent in New York. For an expensive price, they will help the student with their academic work, and will work as a therapist whenever the student needs emotional help. I see why these types of tutors have become prominent, as personally, I’ve felt stressed over school work before, and knowing what exactly I need to do and how I will do it can be frustrating at times. I do exercise in the day, and take a few breaks while working, but sometimes I don’t feel like those always help. I think that many other students feel stressed out by their homework because they feel that if they don’t do a perfect job on it and make sure to turn in the assignment on time, there will be a terrible consequence or they won’t learn enough. This is why homework therapists are designed to help the student in all aspects. However, I feel that homework therapists may not always be the best option for many students, including myself. In my opinion, homework therapists will probably work for me in terms of getting my work done for a few months, because of the added pressure I’d get from someone else that I’m not as familiar with to finish my homework. However, as I grow more and more accustomed to them from communicating more about my personal life as therapists and their clients often do, I don’t think that I’ll take them as seriously anymore, leading to their effect on my studying to be not as strong.

As an ambitious high school student who has to deal with a lot of homework stress, a "homework therapist" sounds good in principle. Psychologists like Holly Schiffrin say that the concept of an academic tutor who can also aid with life skills and emotional distress "makes sense." However, as good as it sounds on paper, it might be a bit too idealistic, and in reality is less practical. Firstly, this service is available to and most likely caters to upper class children by charging in a range of $200-$600/session, and ignores financially struggling families, who have always statistically been at an educational disadvantage. Secondly, they regurgitate study and relaxation skills that most people have been taught for years, or are easily accessible on the internet. At the Clay Center for Young and Healthy Minds, Dr. Ellen Braaten even says there is no substantial evidence indicating homework therapists ensure long-term benefits and that there are no precise guidelines or standards determining what they actually do. Students could start depending on them as an academic and emotional crutch, stunting their own self-growth or betterment. I am an especially strong advocate for the awareness of mental health in schools, but I'm not sure that homework therapists are necessarily the answer. I think that they should be considered a worst-case scenario solution, for when a student is unable to obtain helpful resources from parents, siblings, teachers, or counselors.

If we have come to a point in society where you need to have a therapist for homework I have some worries. I understand a therapist for things such as mental health and physical disabilities. But homework is something that I believe many people gain too much stress from and it is almost always self given. Yes I do have times where I have a mental breakdown about homework but I still do it. Therapy is used for something that is out of your control. Homework is 100% in yours. With homework you control when you do it and when you don't. Many of the times you know about a big assignment but put it off and then when it's the night before you are scrambling to finish it. This happens over and over. So if you hiring some and paying upwards of 500 dollars just to have someone comfort you about it seems absurd when it could in many times be avoided if you don't make a big deal out of it. And one more thing, if you are going to need a therapist for a responsibility for something liek homework you simply won't be able to function under the responsibilities and work that come with having a career.

To me a homework therapist sounds outlandish. This is probably due to my mentality of doing things by myself. I don’t stress about homework or how hard it is. A majority of the time the homework itself is easy as long as you pay attention in class. What homework is, is time consuming. Some assignments can take hours though most take minutes. Finding the time to actually do homework is part of the reason homework exists. I, like every other student, dislikes homework but I cannot deny it’s benefits. Homework helps you gain a better understanding of a subject and improves your time management skills. So by spending $200-$600 on a homework therapist all your doing is depending more on others to help fulfill your responsibilities. If you are really struggling with a subject, getting homework done, or depression due to low grades it would be beneficial to get a regular therapist or a tutor. One that doesn’t have you make Spotify playlists or build glitter globes.

Part 1: I fall in the category of students where I understand the importance of homework but at the same time avoid doing it or just blow it off completely. Instead of homework I like to do what I call productive procrastination. This is where I do things like clean my room or walk my dogs, anything except the piles of homework that I should be working on. It’s no secret that I could definitely use some of the techniques of these Homework Therapists and maybe even benefit from the help of one but with the steep prices and what seems to be common sense organization techniques I don’t think a homework therapist is in the tables for me or a lot of other students.

I personally think that these setbacks and struggles in life is what mold people into who they are. If you never have to overcome adversity as a kid the first time a problem is thrown your way you will not know how to react. To make things worse parents are willing to pay to give kids an easy way out. For example in New York, homework therapists are paid between $200 and $600 for a session that only lasts around a hour. As the article states a homework therapists job is to “administer academic help and emotional support as needed”. To me it sounds like homework therapists would be able to improve my grades because that is what they are designed to do. By hiring a homework therapist I also feel like I would not learn as much. As a tutor their job is to really teach the person in a subject that they struggle with. Even then, in reality many times it just turns into the tutor helping the student “escape” the class rather than learning the content. As Angela Duckworth said, the ability to overcome setbacks is what convinced parents to pay for homework therapists. My brother is currently in the 7th grade and took the ACT for duke TIP. When it came to the science section he completely guessed on each and every question. While the ACT might have not meant that much to him he should have tried to answer. I feel like I learned how to get through setbacks such as these by just powering through them, I never had someone leaning over my shoulder telling me the answer.

Many people will say that so called "homework therapists" are a bad thing that will make students less self sufficient and such. I happen to disagree with this for a number of reasons. Homework therapists help students not only with their homework, but also with their emotional stress and such. Many students including myself experience levels of stress that are incredibly high. For example I'm writing this now and fretting over how much homework I have, if my teachers will put in my grades before the end of the quarter and much more. If I had someone who could help me with my math homework and help relieve my anxiety that would be a blessing. Many people go to therapists for all sorts of social problems and such. Why not have someone who can help you with two big troubles in teens lives homework and anxiety. This is personally why I think that homework therapists are a good thing especially for students that have more complex anxiety issues different from the normal high school student. The cost is another big issue as the article states it can cost 200 to 600 dollars an hour. This is definitely a lot of money, but for parents who have the means to pay for one of these then and it will help their child, why would they not do it for their children? I personally don't need a homework therapist, and feel I manage my workload well. For the people that do have anxiety and such I do think that people such as Dr. Hillman can provide a serious help to many children.

Part 2 Despite these complaints, I did find a benefit to these sessions that would greatly destress all scholars: time management. In my after school routine, my homework time turns into scrolling through my Instagram feed, watching Netflix, etc., and ends with a 1.5 hour rush to finish my assignments and get to bed. Clearly, my stress, as well as many others, is rooted in our schedule. Seeing that these successful tutors “help [students] develop sorting strategies, workable planners and study schedules” gives me hope that regular tutors, even schools, will adopt the teaching of time management, making it accessible to all stressed students.

I thought it was ironic me reading this article, just a couple days ago I was joking with a friend about needing a life coach to get through my homework. Most days, I don't start my homework until at least 9 O'clock after sports and other extracurriculars. I feel like I have a pretty good system at dealing with homework. I have a do and done pile on my desk, the only problem is how long it takes to get one thing from the do to the done pile. Dr. Hillman mentions the "worry can morph into unhealthy avoidance", that is what I often do, I'll put off important work to do thing that aren't as important. I think that homework therapy is a good idea, for those who can actually afford to pay hundreds of dollars for these sessions. Going to homework therapy for multiple sessions could harm the students the long run. In the article it describes homework therapy as a plan for them to "become fully functioning, independent adults", but wouldn't the therapy make them dependable on the therapist? It sounds to me like the homework therapy is doing the most of the work for the student. If they really do need help with organization and studying, one or two sessions should set them up pretty well, or maybe one at the beginning of the year or semester. As for me, I think I'll stick to normal tutoring.

Part 1 The “homework therapists” seem like a great relief to the anxiety of many overwhelmed students, myself included, but I find two glaring problems with the practice. First off, I couldn’t get past the price tag. “Between $200 and $600 for regularly scheduled in-person sessions that range from 50 to 75 minutes.” You’re telling me that a side job could rake in $1800 in just 2 and a half hours! One, where do I sign up? Two, is this emotional therapy worth at least $150 extra? I see this price as an unnecessary segregator, cutting off less fortunate families from getting their children help. Second of all, I feel the regularity of these sessions will inadvertently cause a harmful dependence for students. While these meetings intend to create capable future citizens, I see a clear contradiction when a teenager grows an attachment, like Ms. Ansbro in the article, after pouring out their feelings every week. I agree with the expert, Ms. Schiffrin, in saying “there should be a plan in place for them to become fully functioning, independent adults”

Stress and high school kind of go hand in hand.This makes striving to be a great and competitive student a complete chore. When this pressure is piled on top of jobs, social pressures, and family issues there is no wonder why some student seek out emotion and educational help. Although with this said, children who have the resources to pay "...$200 and $600 for regularly scheduled in-person sessions that range from 50 to 75 minutes."it allows for them to gain an unfair advantage compared to those who may not have that support due to lack of income. Children who are striving to achieve these great colleges will lose this coddling instructor and have a reality shock at college when it is all on them to balance out their stress. Socially i feel the need for one of these types of therapist are a great indicator in the amounts of stress that is pushed on us weekly since birth to be the biggest, brightest, and most successful minds. We as a society need to realize what we are doing to our children and relax some of the pressures we are putting on them to allow them to be kids while they still can.

Yes, I as well as almost everybody need a Homework Therapist from time to time. I can't remember a night where I didn't stay up til' at least twelve to finish a project due the next day. I can't help it. I have a serious case of procrastination. I've been trying to stop for the past year, but just ask my parents how that is going. I definitely need a change and the Homework Therapist is the perfect solution. I would need one for the purpose of time management. I'm not a big emotional guy, so the yelling and screaming some of the therapists might have to deal with wouldn't really be a problem. In all honesty, I would get a homework therapist if it wasn't as pricey. Both of my parents are teachers. In a six-person household, it isn't logical or realistic for them to drop $800 a night so our grades are good. In New York, the cost is "$200 and $600" for scheduled visits that only last "from 50 to 75 minutes." In reality, I'm not getting a Homework Therpist anytime soon. Yet, after reading the article, I've learned that I can start better habits by keeping a calender or having constant reminders to get work done. Writing notes on my bathroom mirror could help to. And if I'm ever feeling overwhelmed, I need to listen to music or go play with my little sisters Play-Doh.

Homework therapist. WOW! I would love something like that! But you know what? If I will rely on private tutor that will help me do my homework, and calm me down anytime I feel stressed, first of all my family will be a bankrupt (while this tutoring might not even help, like in the story with SAT mentioned in the article), and second of all this tutor will need to move to my house, because I will need to be next to him all the time. But what happens next? Next I will get really addicted to always being helped with my stress, I won't be able to deal with it myself, and there will be stress in life. Although right now we all think this is the most stressful time in our lives that's not true. Life will be tough, and if we don't learn how to deal with it right now, it going to be a disaster. This is however, my own opinion, and a homework therapist is not going to help me. But the article gives a good example of how beneficial for some people this solution might be. Ms. Ansbro is one of many students who worked with Dr. Levy-Warren (a "homework therapist") and gained a lot from her lessons. Without Dr. Levy, Mellora Ansbro probably would not have applied to graduate school and wouldn't know what to do next. This shows how individual the problem is. While some students need to just power through it, some students need to listen to music and some students need a private tutor. But the "need" of tutor should be severe and you should have a good explanation of why you need it.

Part 1 This is an article that makes me feel worse about the coming future. A Homework Therapist? Really? I don't understand how this "need" came about, nor do I understand its purpose. I don't get it. Never in my life have I ever had so much Homework that I need therapy. This Idea is ridiculous. Now I know some people will tell me that "They don't know my life" or "I need to get into college" In fact I saw comments about things like that. The thing is, I went to the same elementary school, and the same middle school and now are in the same high school and never once in my life have I had so much Homework that I couldn't complete it before the due date. I will admit though, I have procrastinated on many assignments and turned them in late (Like this one I'm writing right now), but that's on me, not the school. That's the problem, People can't seem to focus on one thing. If you just really put your mind to it I am POSITIVE you can finish that assignment before it is due. I realize that the "Homework part" is only the first part of "Homework Therapist" but come on. You don't have friends that will help you with your homework or give you emotional support? Is it that bad that you need a specialist? (See Part 2 for more)

Part 2 Students are not the only ones to blame though. Parents, why would you do this to yourself? Paying $200-$600 a visit? I did the math...and your paying $7,200 a year. My parents don't even pay that much for piano lessons. The thing is, this isn't a sport, or an instrument, or a organization (BSA, GSA). This is a friend. You are paying for a friend. I can guarantee you that your son or daughter knows at least 1 person that could help them with their home work and hang out. The descriptions the gave, "shoeless feet on a fluffy white rug" "Emotional support Via Skype, email and text." These are things friends do with one another. So why are you paying? Whats the Issue? Its hard to pinpoint, but I think a big one is obligation. Parents tell, you that you absolutely need to go to collage or else you will never have a happy life. People dwell on this idea to the extent that they will try everything they can to get into college. I read comments about how they don't have enough time to sleep because the have four hours of sports and then four more of homework. I cant believe this. I don't understand how you have four hours of homework every night or why out of all thing to sacrifice, you would choose the thing that gives you energy to succeed. If you are struggling that muck to do your homework, skip a practice or two. You need to maintain a certain grade anyway. My point is, no one needs a therapist for homework, you just need to spend a little time relaxing and refocusing.

I am just like every other student. I loathe the homework and studying that I have daily, but I understand that it is necessary. The only way you can get an education is if you work hard at it, and homework is part of that hard work. I have never had a homework therapist, and I feel that it would not benefit me to have one. I am a very independent person, and it would be a waste of time for me because I already feel like I have a good grip on my homework load. I understand that some students are not as independent as I am and they need a tutor, but in my opinion, homework therapy is not a good idea. For one, the cost of these tutors are overpriced. According to the article, parents pay between $200 to $600 for these in person sessions. This is entirely to much money for a service that can be questionable about what they actually provide. In the article, Dr. Braaten at The Clay Center says there is no licensing or guidelines requirements for homework therapists. He also says there is no strong evidence that this treatment actually works. If a student needs to be coached for a gifted and talented test, then why are they taking the test at all. In my opinion, homework therapists will in fact hurt kids who are trying to get an education. As students move on in life, they won’t be able to rely on these therapists for everything. Going through school teaches you a sense of responsibility, and homework therapists take that away.

I have a love hate relationship with homework, I feel that it does help but that doesn’t mean I always enjoy it. The only exception is my math and science homework because they consist of very straightforward answers which is the least bit stressful. But on the other hand, I tend to avoid/put off English and history homework because it takes me hours to be finalize my answers and trying to find the “right” answer is tiring. I feel that homework therapy can be beneficial, especially in cases like Mellora Ansbro, who with the help of Dr. Levy-Warren and other work, is a successful graduate of John Hopkins University (which is a pretty big deal.) While I think these homework therapists are helping students cope with their everyday stress from school, I feel that they’re almost babying the students. I agree with Holly Schiffrin when she says that “ there should be a plan in place for them to become fully functioning, independent adults.” Mellora Ansbro, recently out of college, hired her high school therapist once again. This goes to show that the therapist sheltered her too much and like I said, babied her. I know from personal experience and a little tough love from my parents, that struggling and finding your own way to deal with stress can prove to be beneficial later on in life. After many years of dealing with the stress of homework, I've almost become a pro at managing my time and other outside pressures to limit the amount of stress I possess.

I’m not one to be the stereotypical high school student and constantly blame any bumps in the road on teachers and the homework given by them. Although, I can’t ignore the recurring stress many students, including myself deal with and think they would greatly benefit from the help of a homework therapist. Through reading the article, I find it almost repulsive how desperate students seem to need these psychological tutors, and apparently the demand is growing. The fact that these therapists are being hired for middle schoolers is what really shocked me. However, despite knowing the overwhelming stress students have, it almost feels like a scam in my opinion, and obviously many others who commented on this prompt. These therapists are meant to “increase children’s motivation,” when I know parents, friends, and teachers are just as qualified and reliable in that sense. Charging up to $200 is rather excessive and in more ways hurting than helping. If anything, these therapists are benefiting off of student’s anxiety and the continuous back-breaking pressure they deal with.

Nowadays, it’s not all that uncommon to see an exhausted face with a cup of coffee in the hallways at school. Many students feel pressured and overwhelmed by the amounts of homework assigned, but really, it’s something that we all deal with. Many people have different approaches when it comes to managing their piles of work but, paying $200-600 to have someone coddle you with video games and music doesn’t seem very productive. Also, Dr. Braatem even mentions that there isn’t solid evidence that it works, which makes me a bit more skeptical. Learning how to manage your own time and workload should be a skill that people self-develop so that they can also learn how to face other challenges in life. It seems also seems like some of these patients become too dependent on their homework therapist throughout their life, as proven by Mellora Ansboro. Everyone has different approaches to managing their school life and sometimes small boosts of help can be beneficial, but in the end, students need to develop these skills on their own so they can be prepared for the challenging things that they will encounter in the future.

For me personally, stress comes not only from the pressure of school and the need to get good grades and pass the school year, but from my parents. If I earn lower than a C in just one of my classes, there will be consequences. I know by setting these standards, my parents are just trying to insure that I stay above a C, but in reality, I just get really overwhelmed and stressed when my grade is lower than a B. I like to think I am a good child, but I’m also a slow thinker because of my thyroid, so sometimes, good grades feel unobtainable. Even said, I don’t like the idea of a homework therapist. To me, it seems like a fancy tutor who scams you into paying twice as much for the same benefits. Maybe invite wrong though.

I’m a pretty normal high school kid. I play sports, and like to do things over the weekend to have fun. So of course I have been stressed out by homework and school in general. Who doesn’t? This being said, I have never felt like I had so much work to do that there was no way I could get it done. Most of my stress comes from me putting the work off until the last minute, but even then I still feel like I can get it done. Getting a tutor/ therapist to me seems silly. I mean a tutor is fine because someone just might not be good in the class, but a therapist combined with a tutor is too much. These are high schoolers. So they should know how to manage their work and be able to function with stress in their lives. I can see why people need things to help deal with stress, but this seems needless and very expensive. They mentioned in the article that parents pay between 200 and 600 dollars for the tutors/ therapists, and that combined with needing regular visits is outrageous, and when the parents are paying for things like school coaching in kindergarten it is absurd. They are basically teaching their kids that if they ever have stress they should run to their therapists to help them. Insead of teaching them this they should show them how to manage stress and stay positive through it.

Everyday, I dread going to school because of the homework, projects, and tests they assign. It causes me to stay up late every night and stresses me out to the point that I have mental breakdowns. I don’t really have a way to deal with the stress. I usually just power through it, put on some music, and sometimes I just have to stop working on my assignments and go to bed. It works for me, but I still get stressed very easily. A homework therapist is not necessary. The parents in New York paying $200 to $600 just to have someone nudge their kids to finish an assignment is ludicrous. As the article mentions, the therapists also help with SAT prep and subject tutoring, but I think it’s ridiculous that parents pay so much money for something their kids can go to their teacher and ask for help with. My brother got a tutor for SAT prep the second time he took it, but he ended up getting the same score so it was pretty pointless spending so much money on it when there are free websites that offer specialized practice tests with tips on taking the SAT. The article also mentions how some homework therapists will tell their teenagers to create Spotify playlists to express their mood or hand out scented putty to calm them down. This coddles these teenagers way too much. It’s important to be calm when in stressful situations, but we need to learn to deal with our own problems and not someone treating us like we’re five years old and handing us a ball of Play-Doh or a coloring book.

I can remember countless nights where I would sit at my desk in tears trying to complete the monstrous pile of homework in front of me late at night. Even though these long nights stressed me out, I would get everything done... all by myself. I believe that homework therapists are a waste of money and are actually hurting the students more than helping them. As stated in the article, people in New York pay homework therapists between $200-$600 for just a 75-90 minute session! That is a lot of money people are wasting for someone to organize their child’s binder and walk them through a to-do list. While homework therapists could help students to get organized, they could also become too reliant on the help. If students always have someone around to clean up their messes and walk them through challenges then they will never learn how to do these things for themselves. Students need to learn valuable coping skills to get through the challenge of school without paying someone to help them succeed.

In middle school my conception of tutors was that it was embarrassing if you had one, but know I find myself needing them. This article showed me an entirely different view of tutors. I never knew that some tutors have what you could call headquarters like the Brooklyn Learning Center, who recently launched a Homework Therapy program and has 10 full time employees. The idea of a homework therapist is an excellent idea. As the article states homework therapist help students work out math problems but they also do much more they help address the psychological issues affecting the student. Students often need more than just a tutor, they need someone to calm their nerves and relieve their stress that comes from hours of sports practice on top of ours of homework. There have been many times I have wished I had someone that could not only help me solve the math problems or write my English paper but someone who could help me figure out how I am going to get it all done.

Recently I haven’t felt very overwhelmed by homework but last semester, I was always staying up until at least 12:00 am just finishing homework. I always had a horrible attitude at school because of how tired and stressed I would be. To deal with the pressure I would usually go for a walk or take extra long showers just to relax. In the article I found that the spotify method seems to be a really great method when a student needs to focus or calm down. Music always seems to help me focus or make me feel better. I feel that if I made a specific spotify playlist directed towards my feelings towards homework, it could greatly help me calm down. I also feel that not only the amount of work that students have to complete contributes to their stress but also their school environment as well. From personal experience I can say that your stress level can greatly depend on your teacher. I’ve had some teachers that don’t make sense in class or stress you out by lecturing the class about all of the work that you have due and that has greatly affected how I feel when I do my homework. If I’m doing my homework and I don’t understand it or all I can think about is how much more work I have to do, I feel really stressed out.

Homework. Even uttering the name gives me anxiety. I have had my fair share of staying up all hours of the night studying, and I am more than familiar with its never ending list of demands and due dates. Last semester was by far the worse. I would normally get 3 hours of sleep every night because I had so much work to do outside of school. My entire weekend as well as Christmas Break was spent doing my homework. I never had a break, and I had no time to do anything I enjoyed. It was miserable. Luckily, this semester I am not as busy academically, and I have learned to balance my social, athletic, and academic life. Thankfully. However, a ‘homework’ therapist that was suggested in the article would have been very helpful during my first semester. If I had the time to plan out my days and talk to somebody about how stressed I was, I think I would have been in a much better place. I hope ‘homework’ therapy catches on, and parents will see it as a way to help their children get through school in a healthy manner instead of a waste of money and time. This will definitely relieve students of a lot of the built of stress and anxiety they experience especially high school students that are doing the most they can to get accepted into the school of their dreams.

I almost always feel overwhelmed doing homework but that is no one's fault but mine. I procrastinate every assignment and sometimes freak myself out over trivial problems like where I left my homework even though I know I put it in my binder but I insist on checking the entire house before the binder because I want to be super sure. Typically I don't use anything for helping with stress except complaining to my family about how stressed I am. Scented playdough and some candles are nice and all but they're not going to complete my math homework. Pressure from family, teachers, and even ourselves contributes to homework related stress, but we as students must learn to accept that stress is a part of our lives and we must adapt to solving our own problems. Homework therapy is good and all, and I have respect for Dr. Hillman for helping out overstressed teens, but they are just instilling the mindset that there will always be someone to help us out with our school and work-related problems, and that is simply not the case. Homework therapy doesn't seem like it's for me, but I understand some students who are under lots of pressure to succeed do need someone like a homework tutor to help them out. Organization and time management is a skill we must all develop independently because at the end of the day it's our own lives and it's up to us on how we are going to live it.

The point of homework is to create an acknowledgement and understanding of the concept previously learned in class. It should be hard enough to challenge you to take the teachers lessons and do the harder homework problems. Now the homework load can be overwhelming but you need to embrace this work. This is only training you to be a real problem-solver in today's society. You should attack your homework with strength and determination not with sorrow and complaining. According to the article "The service is not cheap. Parents in New York generally pay between $200 and $600 for regularly scheduled in-person sessions that range from 50 to 75 minutes. This on top of the hefty fees New York mothers and fathers already pay to help their children get ahead, or just stay on pace, from coaching for kindergarten gifted and talented tests, to subject tutoring, SAT prep and help with writing their college essays." Now if you are struggling with a course you should seek help to avoid digging a deeper whole in your curriculum. For the people who need emotional help, you need to grow up and look for the future. If you do not overcome this you will never succeed in college or the job you are competing for. The new age is filled with more competitive students wanting you to complain and do worse than them. Now its time to rise up and take it like a man.

Personally, I am not the biggest fan of homework. I play lacrosse for two different teams and help coach another. It is very hard for me to find time to do my homework and end up having to do it all when I am tired and want to go to bed. On nights that I have more homework, I especially dread doing it because of how long it is going to take me. It depends on what subject the homework is in on whether or not it helps me learn more. If it is math homework it will help me learn more because it is just more practice with the subject. In the end, homework does tend to stress me out because I don't have a lot of time to sit down and do it and I also would prefer to be doing something different than my homework.

Personally, I have a love-hate relationship with homework and studying. I'll be really anxious and stressed out before and during my study sessions from the large load of work, but I feel relieved after I get everything done. I think that the feeling of being responsible is what contributes to stress. I don't think that homework therapy is a good idea. Students need to learn with personal experience how to manage and complete their responsibilities.

There have been many times in which I have felt overwhelmed by homework and studying. I tend to get very emotional and quickly overwhelmed when I am tired, so when I have homework that is stressing me out or something that I do not know how to do, sometimes the best thing for me to do is just go to sleep. This solution is not the best, because sometimes I am unable to get all that I want to finish done. I liked the idea of just taking a break and listening to a playlist when things get overwhelming, or even making some therapy dough for myself. I don’t think that homework therapy is a bad idea, but I don’t think that it is worth the money, $200-$600 for someone to lower stress? Learning time management and how to deal with stress should be a skill that students figure out on their own, they shouldn’t be coddled by a homework therapist. My parents have always talked about how you learn just as much about dealing with situations in school as you do learning academics. People don’t have someone holding their hand and making glitter globes with them their whole lives, therefore I don’t think homework therapy is worth it.

There are so many times where I feel overwhelmed with homework or studying. Sometimes I have to do both for one class, not to mention the homework I have for my 3 other core classes and 2 academic electives. I manage my time pretty well but I still feel like it is impossible to get everything done. Especially towards the end of the year, around testing time. Reviewing, homework, new lessons, studying, tests, there's so much going on and it's very stressful. To help sometimes I ask my friends for help, if we can work on something together or if they can help me understand something better and complete it faster it helps a lot. For a lot of students grades are the cause of stress. We’re taught that if if you don't do your homework then you don't understand the lesson, you not only get a zero for homework but you,’’ also get one on the test, if you don't pass the test then you won't pass the EOC, if you don't pass the EOC then you don't pass the class, equaling a low GPA, which means you don't get into college. At least, that's what stresses me out.

This is a whole new level of parents coddling their children. Kids don’t need $200-$600 therapists to get on track with school. If parents notice their child is struggling, they should enroll their kid in tutoring, not pay a ridiculous amount for a practice that seems to have very little benefit. I consistently have loads of homework every night, and I make to-do lists every day and check off assignments as I go. As the article says, therapists encourage “ the cathartic power of deep breathing and the soothing nature of to-do lists.” I could’ve just as easily told you those two things would help reduce stress without requiring you to pay $600 first. A lot of kids these days just don’t understand how manage their time and they expect others to do work for them. This is exactly what this is. “Homework therapists” come to your house once a week and help you write papers and let you play with putty. This is dangerous to high schoolers especially because once kids get to college they won’t have any idea how to do work by themselves without the help of a homework therapist. Parents need to stop babying their children and let their kids figure out how to manage stress and work on their own before they’re 30 years old and using a homework therapist to help them finish work assignments.

I’ve always been skeptical of homework therapists, application counselors, and everything of the sort. However, this doubt comes from my own personality. I prefer to work alone no matter the task- school projects, essay writing, homework. It feels too chaotic to have someone else adding their own ideas and thought processes to something that’s already bothersome. But my view of school advisors changed when I started meeting with a college counselor once a month. Like any high school student, I am very anxious about college and doing just the right thing for applications. Nonetheless, this college counselor helped me sort out my current goals and how to achieve them. It took a load of stress off of me to know that someone accomplished in this field was guiding me through the process. Homework therapists can seem excessive, since the whole point of homework is for an individual to learn and display their own thoughts. But when you think about the new amounts of pressure students have from school as well as extracurriculars, these therapists can seem like a necessity. As the article states, tutoring is a 100 billion dollar industry, and homework therapists are just a new addition. From these facts it’s obvious that students do feel more comfortable with a pro in a specific subject or just have someone working with them. So even though I’m not completely sold on the idea of homework therapists, I can’t knock it till I’ve tried it.

You bet I need a homework therapist. Absolutely surprising but studies have actually shown that teenagers cannot survive off of zero to three hours of sleep a night. Crazy, right? When seven thirty to three thirty are devoted to sitting in desks and four thirty to seven thirty are devoted to physical activity and eight to to three am are devoted to homework, where is the time left to sleep? I signed up for my strenuous school schedule in hopes of receiving a scholarship for college because my family is not made of money. Unlike the people in the article receiving the "homework therapy" my parents cannot afford to send me to a private high school, let alone a private college. You would also think that if the students are so busy with so much homework, they wouldn't have the time for hour-long sessions devoted to talking about their homework instead of actually doing it. Although I would love to learn how to manage my homework more properly, nothing can be more efficient than what I do now: plug and chug. So, maybe after all I won't be needing that homework therapy: my session can be taken by a teacher who needs to learn the limits of teenagers as well as the already rigorous schedules thrown at them before hours of ultimately useless homework is thrown at them.

Doing homework doesn’t seem to be a problem for me, truthfully, homework helps me a lot when trying to understand a subject. The real problem, for me, is the amount of homework. Last semester, I would leave school, quickly eat dinner, go to soccer practice, get home at around 8:30, take a shower, and stay up doing math, chemistry, English, Spanish, and all other types of homework until midnight. After being exhausted from school and soccer I would have to keep myself awake for almost four more hours trying to complete what felt like a large stack of homework for each class. It was a constant struggle. The article states that homework therapists are there to administer academic and emotional support. They do things such as teaching teens techniques on how to relieve stress and finding the root of their problems with homework, something I believe would help a majority of students. I can’t count on one hand how many times I broke down, looking at my pile of half finished chemistry worksheets, untouched math textbook, and laptop open to the New York Times comments I still needed to write. I can look back on those nights and think about how much a homework therapist would have helped. In that moment all I really needed was someone who could push me to finish, and help me get through just another night.