When Should I Seek Help For My Child

Deciding to seek a professional therapist is a fear of the unknown, when things seem to be outside of your control already.  As parents, we do everything we know to do to help our child. We hope that they will grow out of whatever it is, but nothing seems to change. Sometimes, things get worse.  Admitting that your child may need to see a child therapist can feel like admitting failure as a parent (which is not the case). 

Times in which therapy would be advisable is when a child has had a couple of months of “not being themselves.” They aren’t as happy, you notice they are more nervous, grades decline, sleeping or eating patterns change or they seem angry or irritable more often are some examples. If a child is making statements of wanting to die or are doing things that are potentially harmful to themselves or others, I would recommend seeking treatment as soon as this is apparent.

Once you have decided to contact a therapist, it’s hard to know where to start. There are droves of therapists, all claiming to be experienced in their field.  Just do an Internet search for “child therapists” and you’ll see what I mean. Some ways to find a good fit and well-qualified therapist are to ask around; your neighbors, friends, people at church or perhaps the school counselor. If you are searching online, look at what the therapist says on their website. Does their philosophy sound like a good fit to you? What training do they have? What are their professional affiliations?  (These are also great questions to ask them directly).

From there, it’s a good idea to have a few therapists you would like to contact.  Compile a list of questions you have a head of time. Some examples of questions include:

Is it important for my child’s therapist to be an in-network provider with my insurance benefits?

What days and times are available that fit my child’s schedule?

How long will my child be in therapy?

How involved are parents in the process?

I encourage at this stage, after talking to a handful therapists, it is important to make an appointment with each of them to meet in person if possible. You may want to come on your own or bring your child to get their feedback. I think this depends on the age of your child and your personal preferences.  This is a very important relationship you are embarking upon for your child and family and it should be not taken lightly.