How to Choose a Mental Health Therapist for Your Child
Every therapist is unique and we all have different strengths. So how do you find the right fit for your child if they need a therapist. Here are 3 tips to consider and questions to ask a potential therapist.
1. Area of Specialty
As much as they want to be, therapists are not capable of treating every diagnosis and mental health challenge that exists. For example, providing therapy to children is much different than providing therapy to adults. Treating ADHD is much different than treating complex trauma. Each requires different levels of training and experience. If you are trying to find a therapist for your child, it is important that they specialize in working with children. There is also a difference between providing play therapy and being a Registered Play Therapist. Becoming an RPT requires significant training, education, and supervision above and beyond the typical mental health licensure process. It is important for you as the parent/guardian to understand in what ways the potential therapist is qualified to help your child.
Question for the potential therapist: What do you specialize in?
2. Credentials
Therapist have all sorts of letters after their name, which can become confusing. To break it down here is what they mean:
RCSWI, RMHCI, RMFTI – these designations mean the person achieved their master’s degree in a mental health field and is a Registered Intern working towards licensure, which in Florida is a minimum of two year and requires a specific amount of client contact hours and supervision with a qualified supervisor
LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), LMHC (Licensed Mental Health Counselor), LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) – these designations mean the person is at least two years past their master’s degree and has met the requirements stated above to become a licensed mental health professional in Florida.
PhD., PsyD - these designations mean the person is a psychologist who has a doctorate degree. This does not necessarily mean they have experience working with children or providing therapy to children. That’s why asking Question 1 is important. They are often trained in psychological assessments which can be an important part of working with children.
Additional designations: If there are additional initials after someone’s licensure initials it most likely means that the person has additional credentials from an outside organization. For example, RPT stands for Registered Play Therapist and is a credential that is offered through the Association for Play Therapy.
Question: What are your credentials?
3. Therapeutic Approach
This is important. Every therapist has a different therapeutic approach. Some therapists take a more behavioral approach, meaning they are focusing on behavior change within your child. Some therapists take a more relational approach, meaning they focus on the therapeutic relationship as the change agent. Therapists also use different theories to guide their work such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Mindfulness, Psychoanalytic, Person-Centered. There are too many theories to list here. But understanding what approach the prospective therapist uses will help you to determine if they are a good fit for your child. I tell parents all the time, you know your child best and will know when you find the right therapist for them.
Question: What is your therapeutic approach with clients?