Mental Health 8 Tips for Choosing a Therapist for Your Child

Ask yourself the following questions:

• What challenges or behaviors are you hoping to address?
  • Is your child becoming anxious or worried about things they used to not be bothered by?
  • Are you noticing they are isolating more or shutting down more easily?
  • Are they becoming more reactive or irritable?
• What are your child's specific concerns? Is your child asking for someone to talk to? What would they like a therapeutic space to talk about?
• Are there any major changes in your home life? What about any challenges you might be trying to overcome as a family?

2. Ask your "village" for recommendations.

Here are some tips to start looking for a child therapist:

• Talk to your pediatrician or other trusted healthcare providers. Your pediatrician may have a therapist in their clinic!
• Reach out to your child's school counselor or social worker.
• Connect with other parents you trust. Word-of-mouth can be a great source for finding local therapists.

3. Consider your child's preferences.

You know your child best. Do they:

• Prefer a male, female or non-binary therapist?
• Feel comfortable with a therapist of a certain age?
• Prefer a certain communication style?

4. Do your research.

Now that you've spoken to a few connections, you can:

• Look for therapists with experience in your child's specific needs.
• Check their credentials, licenses and areas of focus.
• Read online reviews.
• Schedule a consultation to see if it's a good fit.
  
  

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Do they:

• Listen attentively and make your child feel comfortable?
• Use language that your child understands?
• Seem patient and understanding?

6. Discuss treatment approaches

If your child is a minor, ask these questions directly:

• What are your treatment methods?
• Are you familiar with _____? (for example, play therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), EMDR?
• Are you flexible in your approach if our circumstances change?
• How will I be included in sessions?
• How will you teach us to bring the skills into our family system?

If your child is old enough to seek therapy on their own, encourage them to ask these questions during their first session.

7. Trust your instinct, always.

Ultimately, the best therapist for your child is one you both feel comfortable with. If you have any doubts, or if it just doesn't seem like the right fit, it's okay to keep looking. The key is to be patient, but also be persistent in this journey.

8. Build a collaborative relationship.

Once you've found the right fit, the real work begins. This involves:

• Working closely with the therapist to come up with a treatment plan that meets your child's needs.
• Communicating openly and honestly. Tell them what's working and what isn't. A good therapist is always open to feedback from clients.
  • The goal is to take skills and lessons from the therapy session and have them help you and your child apply them to your family's specific needs.
• Being an active participant in your child's therapy without breaking any boundaries. This will depend heavily on your child's age and your personal relationship. Every family dynamic is different.

Remember, finding the right therapist is a journey, and it's okay to seek out different options until you find the best fit for your child. You are your child's advocate, and by taking the time to find the right support, you can empower them to reach their full potential.