It’s normal to have lots of questions about taking your child to see a psychologist. The Australian Association of Psychologists Inc (AAPi) have published a great resource which answers questions like:
How do I know if my child needs to see someone?
How do I find the right therapist for my child?
What is the process for getting my child assessed or into therapy?
How can I support my child to get the most out of therapy?
My experience, from working for many years with children and teenagers is that therapy works best when the psychologist has is able to communicate with both the child/ teen and their parents. What this looks like can depend on the age and personality of the child/ teen and their unique family environment.
Another factor that supports the success of therapy is the normalisation of the idea of getting help to deal with feelings or a bad situation. Talking to your children about times where you were able to get help, or needed help to deal with something when you were young, is a great way to support your child to be open to the idea of seeing a psychologist.
Communication is always the key. Please never hesitate to contact me if you have any questions, concerns or ideas about ways I can support your child.
