Your child’s first therapy session will be a big milestone. When deciding to seek professional health for your child, it is important to have your ducks in a row before their first session with a new therapist. In this article, we watch for the best ways in which you can help prepare your child for their first therapy session, to help make the road to recovery go a bit more smoothly.
Choosing The Right Therapist
Before scheduling the first appointment for your child and their new therapist, you’ll want to be sure that you have selected the best provider for your child. Be sure to do your research before enrolling your child in therapy, so that you can be sure that they are best suited to treat your child’s individual needs. Speak with your primary care doctor and see if they have any recommendations, or do a quick Google search before booking so that you feel confident in your decision.
Educating Yourself
Before sending your child in for their first therapy session, you will want to take some time to educate yourself a bit about the process. Do some research on your child’s preliminary diagnosis to see what other common treatment plans might look like. This can help you get a feel for what to expect, along with other questions, you can prepare to ask your provider.
Set Goals and Expectations
Setting goals and expectations can help make your child’s therapy journey feel more worthwhile. This will also help you as a parent feel confident that your child’s therapist is being effective in treating what your family is attempting to work through. Be sure to set benchmarks and goals with your child therapist before their first session, so you know where you are starting from, and can reflect on your progress down the road.
Be Supportive
Signing your child up for therapy can be an emotional and sometimes scary experience for parents. You might feel unsure and insecure about your decision to seek professional help. Chances are, your child is feeling a bit distraught, too. Be supportive prior to their first session and reassure them that they are not alone. This is a journey that you and your child will undergo together.
Be Okay With Privacy
As a parent, it is important to stay informed as to your child’s emotional, social, and physical well-being. That being said, you’ll need to remind yourself that a certain level of privacy between your child and their therapist is to be expected. Allow your child the choice of whether or not they want to debrief their session with you. If there is something important and critical that you need to know, feel confident that your child’s provider will tell you.
We hope this article helped you better understand better on first sending your child to therapy. For more helpful, well-being types, as well as a list of our providers who can help your child navigate their journey to fix stuff, contact NeuroBehavioral Associates today.
