Does my child need therapy? How do I find a child therapist? What are the questions to ask a therapist? If you find yourself asking these questions, you are in the right place.
The search for a child mental health care professional can feel daunting and confusing for many caregivers. That’s why we are here. At Hopscotch, we know that caregivers want what is best for their child, and we believe that finding a therapist who has the specific qualifications necessary to help your child should be easy. If you are a caregiver searching for a child or teen mental health professional, here is a complete, seven-step overview for how to find the therapist your child needs.
It is normal for children and especially teens to feel sad, anxious, or stressed intermittently. Bouts of anger, nervousness, or irritability caused by school or family life are part of growing up. But as a parent, how do you know if your child’s struggles are typical or something more serious? And when should you find a therapist for your child?
There are many symptoms that signal a child may need professional mental health support, but here are some primary indicators that finding a child therapist may absolutely be beneficial:
Once you have discerned that your child could benefit from professional mental health support, the next step for parents is to educate themselves about the different types of therapy and types of therapists that exist. In many cases, the age and specific need of your child/adolescent will determine what types of therapeutic methods or clinicians may be needed.
There is a preconception that mental health treatment is expensive, and while this certainly can be the case, it is not always true. We recommend caregivers take the time to learn the ins and outs of their healthcare coverage, because many factors can impact therapy costs substantially, especially if there are school or government benefits available.
A great place to start is to simply call your insurance provider directly and ask what types of services are covered vs. not covered. Taking some time to become an expert in the premiums, copays, and deductible costs for in-network and out-of-network benefits will arm you with the information necessary to make your child’s mental healthcare manageable and sustainable. At Hopscotch, we work with major national insurance carriers, so that your child can see a provider who is in your network. Our customer support team is here to help you navigate the insurance coverage process.
There are several ways you can go about searching for a child or teen therapist: You can search through your insurance company’s network. You can ask your pediatrician or school counselor or a trusted friend for a recommendation. You can search on local community or online parenting groups. And you can search a provider network like Hopscotch. We take your location and concerns about your child into account to suggest a number of therapists who would be a good match. Browse our child therapist directory here and begin creating a list of options.
Once you have a list of child therapists you think may be a good match for your child’s behavioral needs, it’s time to determine fit. Here are 14 great questions to ask a child therapist before scheduling an initial consultation with them:
Hopscotch’s therapists are all carefully vetted - we complete background checks, interview them, verify their license and education and approve them through an internal credentialing committee. But as a general rule, it is always best for parents to exercise a degree of caution when seeking a child therapist. Here are five common red flags to be wary of:
By this step, you will have the information necessary to make an informed decision and schedule either a consultation (Hopscotch offers free 15 minute calls with our providers) or schedule your first appointment. All that is left to do is to prepare your child/adolescent for what therapy will be like before their first appointment.