Questions to Ask When You Meet Your Child's Therapist

With so many types of mental health professionals, you must be an informed consumer. You have the right to question the training and qualifications of the therapist you are considering or who has been assigned to your child. Whether your child is seeing a private therapist or is being seen in a clinic or community MH/MR center, parents have the right to ask questions. The following list of questions can be used as a guide:

• What is your professional training and degree?
• How much specialized training and experience have you had with children and/or adolescents who have emotional or behavioral disorders?
• Please explain your theoretical views. What theoretical school of thought do you follow?
• How would you handle acting out in your office?
• Do you usually see the child alone or with the family?
• What procedures will you use to evaluate our situation?
• Will my child be tested? How much do you or your agency charge for testing?
• How frequently will my child have sessions? How long will each session be? Will these sessions be set at a convenient time for me so that I don't have to miss time from work and/or my child will not have to miss any time from school?
• What is your policy on video-taping sessions and/or using one-way mirrors? If I do not want to be taped or observed, can I still be seen?
• What is the cost of each session? Does our insurance cover the cost?
• Can I still be seen if I don't have any money? What is your policy on cancelled appointments? Is the full fee still due?
• Are you doing an internship or residency? If so, who is your supervisor and when will you be leaving? If therapy is still needed after you are gone, what will happen?
• How much outreach do you do? Can you come to my home to see my child in his environment? Will you work with the people at my child's school?
• What happens if there is a crisis with my child? Do you have access to crisis intervention services?
• Will you keep me informed about how you feel my child's therapy is progressing?

If you feel uncomfortable with the answers or if the therapist seems reluctant to answer them, do not hesitate to ask the clinic for a new therapist or look for another. Often the clinic has a long waiting list and no other therapist may be available to see your child, but there are other clinics where your child could be seen immediately. If you cannot pay the full fee and/or have no insurance, ask about sliding fee scales.

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