The percentage of children that have received treatment for various mental health issues varies from state to state. There are several reasons a parent might consider finding a therapist for children that might need someone to help them sort through problems they might be experiencing, such as bullying or peer pressure.
If you’re looking for therapists in Albuquerque, you must know what you should look for. Below we’ve created a comprehensive guide that will help you weigh your options for therapists the right way.
1. Check Their Credentials
The first thing you need to do when seeking a licensed children’s therapist is checking their credentials. There are tons of questions you could ask to determine the training the therapist has received.
Where did they receive their education to practice psychotherapy? Do they specialize in a certain area?
What is the success rate or improvement rate for children that have been seeing the therapist long-term? Having these questions will help bring you a step closer to determining if the therapist will be the one that can help your child in the way that they need.
It’s also important to know if the therapist can prescribe medication. The reason for this is there are times when children suffer from anxiety and depression.
The use of medication can help stabilize and regulate their mood.
2. Financial Aspect Involved With Therapy
One thing we’re sure you understand is therapy isn’t cheap, nor is it free. As you continue weighing your children’s therapy service options, you need to think about how you’re going to afford the sessions for your child.
The first thing you need to do is inquire about the types of insurance they accept. Ask what the fees are on top of the flat rate you will pay to the therapist for each session.
You also need to take the time to ask how long each therapy session will last because this will directly correlate to how much you spend on each service. There are going to be times when your child gets sick or has other obligations.
When these things occur, you need to know what the cancellation policy is if you cannot make it to the session during your designated time slot. If you enjoy making payments over the phone, you need to ask if they accept payments this way.
As time continues and technology continues to evolve, more businesses want clients to make their payments via their website.
This will streamline the process instead of by check or calling over the phone.
3. Are They the Right Fit?
You can’t choose a therapist that your child isn’t comfortable around. The therapist and your child must mesh well. If not, your child isn’t going to get anything out of their sessions, and it could negatively affect your child instead of a positive one.
The therapist should be a good listener and skilled in helping your child open up and express themselves in a safe space. The therapist should also have strategies to help your child feel empowered instead of shy or reserved.
Typically, the first time you speak or meet with a therapist, you’ll be able to tell if they are the ones you need to hire to help your child. Always go with your gut feeling, and if your gut says something isn’t right, listen to it.
4. Scroll Through Reviews
What better way to determine if a therapist is right for your child than scrolling through their client testimonials. Keep in mind if you know someone whose child is in therapy, you don’t want to overstep your boundaries and breach their confidentiality, but you can ask them about the therapist.
Is the child comfortable with them? Does the therapist communicate well with parents about the progress their child is making?
If the therapist doesn’t have reviews on their site, you can ask them if they can call any references. These references will vouch for the work and character of the therapist, further helping you make your final decision.
5. Think About the Part You Play
At some point during the therapy process, the family will be involved in the therapy sessions before your child begins seeing a therapist; you need to ask what type of involvement the parents and family play in the process.
If your child experiences turmoil within the home environment, it’s essential that everyone learns ways to work together to improve the current environment so that all members of the family thrive.
For example, if your child has homework they need to do outside of therapy, will it involve everyone to help them complete it.
Is there a part of each session where a parent will need to be present before the therapist goes one-on-one with the child? If so, that’s something you need to know.
Finding Therapist for Children 101: Getting Your Child the Support They Need
When finding a therapist for children, there are some things you need to do to ensure your child gets the right therapist. Not only does the therapist need to be licensed, but they also need to specialize in an area that will benefit your child in the long run.
If you’re still looking for a therapist to help your child stop your search and contact Talking Circles Therapy & Wellness. We offer several types of counseling and make it easy for you to fill out forms on this site before your child’s first therapy session.
