When my son first starting having issues at approximately nine years old I knew he needed to see someone, who was impartial and trained, to help him with his problems. I went on a quest to find a competent therapist. When doing so, it is important to get a referral from someone. Therapists are generally competent, but not all are good.
My second suggestion when finding a therapist, after you have gotten a referral, is find someone who is covered under your insurance, if you have insurance. The worst thing is to find a therapist you think is great, and your child thinks is great and all of the sudden they are there with the therapist once a week, because they probably need to be, at $110 an hour, when it would have been a $30 co-pay on your insurance.
After you have your a referral, checked this person is on your insurance, then call or email them. Speak to them via phone or email and see if you like them and if they are willing to give you time to discuss your child with them. If you feel they may be the right person, then make an appointment, without your child, and go to see them yourself. Always see them first to decide if this is someone you feel comfortable leaving your child or teen with an hour at a time to discuss their private feelings.
If your child or teen is having problems, don't hesitate to find a counselor for them to talk to. They may be reluctant, but keep trying, it could save their life.
Don't forget about the other siblings in the household. If one sibling is having a difficult, troubled time the others will be affected, do not forget about them. Children are extremely aware of what is going on in their surroundings and need to know that it's okay to be upset and maybe they need to talk to a counselor too.
Being a parent is tough. Nobody ever tells you how tough.
"Having children makes you no more a parent than having a piano makes you a
pianist." Michael Levine
There are no books out there that tell you everything you need to know about parenting. Do your best for yourself and your child and make sure you rest in between.
My second suggestion when finding a therapist, after you have gotten a referral, is find someone who is covered under your insurance, if you have insurance. The worst thing is to find a therapist you think is great, and your child thinks is great and all of the sudden they are there with the therapist once a week, because they probably need to be, at $110 an hour, when it would have been a $30 co-pay on your insurance.
After you have your a referral, checked this person is on your insurance, then call or email them. Speak to them via phone or email and see if you like them and if they are willing to give you time to discuss your child with them. If you feel they may be the right person, then make an appointment, without your child, and go to see them yourself. Always see them first to decide if this is someone you feel comfortable leaving your child or teen with an hour at a time to discuss their private feelings.
If your child or teen is having problems, don't hesitate to find a counselor for them to talk to. They may be reluctant, but keep trying, it could save their life.
Don't forget about the other siblings in the household. If one sibling is having a difficult, troubled time the others will be affected, do not forget about them. Children are extremely aware of what is going on in their surroundings and need to know that it's okay to be upset and maybe they need to talk to a counselor too.
Being a parent is tough. Nobody ever tells you how tough.
"Having children makes you no more a parent than having a piano makes you a
pianist." Michael Levine
There are no books out there that tell you everything you need to know about parenting. Do your best for yourself and your child and make sure you rest in between.
RSS Feed