Finding a Therapist for your Child or Teen
Are you the parent of a child or teenager that is struggling with stress management, anxiety, depression, difficulty in school, trauma, or other mental health concerns? First and foremost, you are not alone. It is estimated that 13.6% of teens have received some form of mental health treatment in the last 12 months, (1) and we know that many more could have benefited from mental health support. As a licensed mental health therapist, I work with families just like yours every day.
Taking the next step to finding the right professional help to support your child can be an overwhelming endeavor. Today we will discuss three things to consider when selecting a therapist to partner with your family in working with your child or teen.
Consider the specialties of the therapist and the specific concerns that you are hoping to address.
For those who are just starting their journey to acquiring the correct mental health support for a child or teen, it can be challenging to identify specific areas of concern or needs. Some parents may just know that their child is struggling, but not be able to specifically identify what the issue is.
The good news here is, common things happen commonly. This is a phrase that is often used in medical communities, and it certainly rings true in the mental health world. The majority of teens can and will benefit from very standard interventions and support. Some of the most commonly utilized interventions are most commonly utilized because they meet the needs of some of the most commonly occurring problems. If you’re new to addressing mental health concerns in your teen or child, do your best to identify what specific areas or needs may be present, and see if you can partner with a therapist who has some experience in those general needs.
Other parents may be further along in their journey of supporting their child their mental health challenges and working towards emotional well-being. If you have already received treatment to the point that you have a diagnosis for your child or have previously utilized or been familiar with certain interventions or therapy models, prioritize those models and interventions that have worked best for your child or teen in the past. And or, look for a therapist who has specialization in the specific concerns and diagnoses of your child or teen. For those who are in need of more specialized training, it is important to partner with a therapist that has the training to meet the needs of your child.
2. The personality and attributes of the therapist are important.
The therapy process is based upon the relationship between the therapist and your child or a teen. For effective therapy to occur, there must be quality and trusting relationship between the therapist and your child. When considering selecting a therapist for your child or teen, it is OK to select a professional based on the attributes that are most likely to assist your child in connecting. A great way to get a better feel for a therapist is by reading their bio, doing some general searching on any publications or information they may share on their website, or giving the therapist a call and asking a few questions to understand their approach and personality a bit better.
3. Consider the benefits of online therapy versus in-person therapy.
The mode of connection for therapy has changed drastically over the past few years as many services have been expanded to being offered in an online format. There are many benefits to participating in online therapy including, time efficiency, comfortability of the home environment, accessibility, and even some increased tools and interventions that are facilitated through online formats.
When considering online therapy for children or teens, it is important to consider whether the online connection will be a help or hindrance to your child’s work and learning. Speaking from general experience, we most often find that children under the age of 12 may struggle to fully connect and retain information through the online format, as more hands-on activities are limited. (There are of course always exceptions, and there are children that do effectively work through online therapy options that may be younger than 12.) As the parent of a child or teen, it is important to think through which form of connection and communication may be best. If in doubt, picking a practice or therapist that offers the flexibility of both in-person or online therapy services may be a good option to consider.
One final note that I will encourage you with is this: if the first therapist you connect with is not a good fit for your child, teen, or your family, it is absolutely OK to transfer or change providers. Not every therapist is a good fit for every teen, child, or family. We all have different specialties, approaches, personalities, and clients that we will be most equipped to assist. If you attempt to start services with one therapist, and things simply aren’t working or it is not a good fit for your child or teen, keep trying. While we don’t advocate for switching providers all of the time or jumping from provider to provider, it is important that you advocate for the needs of your teen or child, and work to find a therapist that is equipped to assist them in their unique challenges and has the ability to connect with them well.
If you are looking for a teen or child therapist and are located in the DFW area, our team of licensed therapists would love to connect with you. We offer online therapy options as well as in-person therapy options at Arlington Texas-based therapy group.
