As a therapist who is also a mother I empathize with the concerns of parents who are trying to decide how best to help their child. Many parents are unsure of which type of therapy is right for their child and who would be best at helping them. There are many options that you as parents can choose to help find the right therapist for your child. Firstly the child's pediatrician or the family doctor can be a great help discussing possible options. Sometimes a teacher or a daycare staff member who works on a daily basis with the child could recommend a therapist or a center nearby. Sometimes parents choose the type of therapy that feels right for their child and only then do they find an appropriate therapist in that field.
Once you have the name of a therapist how do you begin?
The first step is the initial phone call. This is your opportunity to speak to the therapist and find out about the methods they use in their practice. In this initial conversation you can say a few words about your child, their age, their general challenges so that you can ask the therapist if this is the type of work they do and the appropriate age group for their particular practice. It is also the time to ask the practical details. Where is the practice located? What are your prices? Do you have available time slots that will work for us? By now you will have your basic details and you have had a few minutes on the phone with the therapist so you can get a feeling if you feel comfortable with them. No decisions need to be made at this point and you can get back to the therapist later on in order to book your first appointment. This appointment will take place in the therapy clinic with the parents and the therapist and will be an opportunity for the therapist to take an intake of the child's history. Stay tuned for my next piece where I will discuss the first meeting and what you can expect.