How to Find a Therapist for Your Child

The search is on to find a therapist for your child. The only problem--you have no idea where to start. Deciding to look for a therapist for your child is one thing, but actually going through the process of finding a therapist is a whole other process. Where do you start and what things should you ask about?

Here are some tips for finding the right therapist for your child:

1. Do a quick search

If you don’t have anyone in mind, either Google search for a child therapist in your area, or head over to Psychology Today. This will let you look into several clinicians in your area and get a bit of background on them.

2. Find out their area of specialty

Reach out to the clinician or practice to get more information about their area of specialty and if they have a certain age range that they work with most often. Many therapists have an age-range that they specialize in (children, teens, young adults, etc.), which is good information to know! Also check out what mental concerns they specialize in. Finding someone who is knowledgeable with both the age group of your child and the issues they are experiencing is the first step toward finding a good match.

3. Chat with them

Many therapists offer free phone consultations. Here at our practice, all of our clinicians offer free 15 minute phone consultations. If you are still unsure about whether a certain therapist is a good fit, take advantage of the phone consultation. Having a quick chat is a great way to get a better understanding of the therapist’s style and whether they will be a good fit for what your child needs.

4. See how their process works

Ask the client liaison or clinician about how sessions work. Does the clinician see parents in a session prior to seeing the child? Are sessions combined? Does the clinician see the child only without the parents? Chat about the options and figure out what you and your child are most comfortable with. If you have any questions or concerns, just ask.

5. Get extra information

Finding someone who connects with your child is the first priority. However, don’t forget to ask about the other information as well. Get an idea of availability, price range, location of their office, and session times. Consistency is key for success in therapy, so make sure that whoever you schedule for your child is someone that you will be able to continue seeing on a regular basis.

Those are some basic tips to help you through the process of finding a therapist for your child. We know that the process can feel overwhelming at times. If you are ever looking for more information or have any questions, feel free to reach out to us and get connected to our client liaison!