My child needs therapy. What is the process like?
Children (aged 12 and under): An initial consultation with parents (without child) will be the first session; then I will see your child for four sessions to get a sense of how your child is doing. Then parents (without child) and I will meet again to discuss my initial observation and what will help your child.
Adolescents: Except for when there are significant presenting issues, I will see older adolescents first for an initial consultation to get a sense of who they are and what troubles them. (If your teenage is in a crisis situation, please let me know in your inquiry.)
In the absence of serious presenting problems, adolescent therapy requires a more flexible arrangement because teenagers are at a stage where they value their privacy. Some adolescents will want to involve their parents, while others want therapy to be private and confidential. Because trust is important to adolescents, which affects the efficacy of therapy, I will need to understand the adolescent first before discussing the nature and scope of parental involvement with parents.
Can you provide a free phone call prior to an initial consultation (the first meeting)?
Given the time constraint of a short phone call, I find that it tends to be difficult to have the space to learn more about your concerns or questions, and to respond to them in a way that’s thorough, thoughtful and sensitive. Though I mainly reserve WhatsApp for scheduling matters, if you have a simple, straightforward question regarding my service, I will be happy to answer it via text messages. However, with substantive questions, I will be happy to address them with you during an initial consultation, where we have the time and space to attend to them more fully.
Do you conduct assessments to diagnose, or evaluations for school or court use?
I am sorry I don’t. But large mental health agencies/group practices tend to provide that as part of their service.
What to do if my child refuses treatment?
Please review this for ideas on how to talk to your child. I will also work with you through the process if you are not sure what to do next, or have tried everything but nothing works. Please WhatsApp me if that’s your situation.
How do I find out about my child’s progress in therapy?
I will meet with parents on a regular basis if your child (aged 12 and under) is in treatment with me. Initially, I typically see parents once a month. The frequency of these parents’ sessions can vary, depending on the circumstances of your child and your family, and how long your child has been in treatment. Parents’ sessions are for you to discuss with me your concerns and observations of your child, and for me to support your self-care as a parent and your efforts to help your child make progress.
Find out more about child therapy.
In terms of parental involvement, is there a difference between child and adolescent therapy?
Yes, I work with parents closely in child therapy (aged 12 and below). Older adolescents, on the other hand, tend to have their views about how much and whether they want their parents to see me. Some will want me to see their parents, others might not be too keen on the idea. So, how often I see parents are issues that I discuss with adolescents directly, and work with parents around.