Ten Questions to ask your Teen's Therapist:
When your teen is struggling it can feel overwhelming to find a therapist who is a good fit. It is important to interview or speak with more than one therapist before deciding on the right person to work with your teen. Often allowing the teen to play a part in the decision process helps them to "buy in" to the idea of therapy. Before choosing a therapist for your teen, I recommend asking them these ten questions:
- What is your specialty area? Do you specialize in working with teens and young adults?
- How much or how little communication can I expect from you? Do you provide updates? If so, how often are these updates and are they by phone or email?
- What is your therapeutic orientation or therapeutic style? Can you tell me a little bit about this and how it relates to some of the issues my child is facing?
- What would you do in case of an emergency? Would you notify me?
- What would you do if my child told you they were drinking or using drugs? At what point would you communicate this to me?
- How often do clients come to see you? How long do most clients see you?
- How much communication do you have with my child's circle of care (school counselor, doctor, etc.)?
- Are you passionate about your work with teens?
- What are your fees? What happens if I have to cancel?
- When and how do we know therapy is coming to an end?
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