Questions to ask a Child Psychologist, Child Counselor, or Child Therapist in San Francisco

So you've decided to schedule a few consultations with a therapists in Los Gatos and in the south Bay Area. But how do you take advantage of the free 15 minutes you have? Whether you've gotten recommendations from trusted people or through an online search it's definitely worth it to dig a little deeper and ask questions you wouldn't normally see answered on a therapist’s website or therapist directory profile. First, I recommend getting clear on a few things for yourself ahead of time (Check out my blog about Finding a Child Therapist, Counselor, or Psychologist in San Francisco). Then, use the questions below to guide your conversation during your free consultation.

Questions to ask a Child Therapist in San Francisco, the Bay Area and in California

Maybe it's been a while since you've searched for the right type of child care for your little one or have even decided on what kind of school or extracurricular activities you would like your child to be a part of. Do you remember being overwhelmed by the amount of choices or the lack of information you had in order to make a decision? I get it and that's why I have a few questions for you to consider asking a therapist during your free consultation. My hope is that with the answers to these questions, you will feel more informed and a little less anxious about committing to therapy once you feel like you’ve found the right therapist for you and your family.

What types of issues do you specialize in?

A child therapist is someone who has specific training and experience working with people 17 years of age and younger. In that span of time can you imagine how many challenges come up when parents feel they need a little extra support? With the amount of challenges, developmental milestones and changes our children go through you can bet that there is a child therapist that specializes in one or more of these areas. Some areas of specialty include but are not limited to behavioral challenges, childhood loss, childhood trauma, educational therapy, social skills, and anxiety. A therapist specializing in one or more of these areas doesn't necessarily mean they are the best fit for you, but it does let you know that they focus their time and effort in this specific area.

How old does my child need to be to participate in therapy?

Depending on the issues you're hoping to address in therapy, children and their families may participate in treatment as early as 2 years old all the way up to 17 years old. For example, Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) is a treatment for children 2 to 7 years old and their caregivers. If you want to learn more about PCIT, I share more information about this treatment in my practice in another blog that you can check out (What is Parent-Child Interaction Therapy?).

How do you track our progress in treatment?

There are various ways that a therapist can track progress in treatment. One example is filling out questionnaires on a regular basis to track data and changes in that data over time. Another example is by having open and honest conversations about how therapy is going, whether or not objectives and goals are being met, and collaborating on any changes that need to be made in sessions moving forward in order to continue to make progress. Ideally these types of conversations would also have been on a regular basis.

Can you talk to my child’s teachers, pediatrician, OT, etc?

Again, depending on the situation this can be an option if you and your therapist agree that it would be valuable for the therapist to get in contact with adults that know your child in different capacities. In my work with children and families doing PCIT, I have offered to check in briefly with teachers to get a better sense of the child's behavior at school versus what parents experience at home. Just be sure your therapist has your written permission before getting in contact with them ahead of time! To do this, you would fill out a “Release of Information” form provided by your therapist.

Do you conduct assessments for schools?

Sometimes parents search for a child therapist in San Francisco and in the Bay Area because of a concern brought up by their child's teacher or another trusted adult. And sometimes it is enough to begin working with a child therapist once you’ve found one. However, there are situations where more information would be helpful to determine an appropriate action plan in regards to a child's education or benefit from support services available only after a psychological assessment has been completed. If you're hoping for referrals for this type of service, please give me a call and I will be happy to provide more information!

You deserve a Child Therapist San Francisco who understands what you’re going through and how to support you!

I hope these questions help you narrow down which therapist will be the best fit for you and your family's needs. If you're still not sure and think it would be more helpful to speak to someone directly, I totally understand! So, please don't hesitate to reach out, schedule your free consultation and get your questions answered!

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