Looking for a therapist is not easy, especially if you are finding one for your child. You need to find a counsellor or therapist who is experienced and knowledgeable enough to help your teen deal with his or her issues. But locally, you know that you have plenty of options to pick from. So how will you know who to choose? Who is best for your teen?
And as a parent, you need to ensure that you are picking the right one.
Here are some tips on how to choose the right counsellor for your teen from Life supports online:
Talk To The School
Guidance Counsellor
Usually, the person who will encourage you to get a therapist for your teen is the schools’ guidance counsellor. Some parents may feel insulted when the school counsellor advise them that their child needs help. But this should not be taken lightly. The counsellors at school know how your child behaves outside your home. They can help you find a therapist who is great not only with teens but also with parents.
Attend Free Parenting
Lectures
If you feel like you need to fully understand your child’s situation,
then you can attend free parenting lectures and workshops that are usually
conducted by schools, parenting organizations, youth centres, and therapy
institutes. Adolescent therapists here can discuss what they do and how they
can help your child. Also, you can meet other parents dealing with the same things
that you have to face day-in-day-out.
Get A Referral
Aside from the recommendations from the school counsellor, you can
also get referrals from a trusted friend or family. What’s important here is
that you have peace of mind that this therapist has a good track record of
providing a positive experience with a child or a teen. Provided that both of
your kids are experiencing the same symptoms or situations. You need to know
from this person what this therapist is like and how does he or she handle such
situations. This is also how you can determine if the therapist accepts
insurance.
Ask the Therapist
Now that you have a list of referrals and you have talked to each one of them, the next thing to do is to make your choice. Before you decide, you need to know how to start the process. Before your face-to-face meeting, it is best that you can talk to the therapist over the phone. You should have a list of questions by now especially with the training and background of the therapist when it comes to working with children. You should also ask how long the therapy will take and if there are any medications involved.
Parents need to be proactive about seeking advice and guidance for
their children. These are the parents who will win in the end against the battles
that they face with their kids. So if you need a therapist, then consider the
tips mentioned above for you to make a well-informed decision.
