How can I find a good professional for my child?
Choosing a psychologist for a child raises questions. Checking their training, asking about how they work and weighing up the trust you feel helps you decide.
Deciding that our child needs professional help is already an important step. The next one, finding who to turn to, is not always easy.
Where to start
The paediatrician or the school's guidance team can make a first assessment and, if needed, refer the child to the child and adolescent mental health service. If we choose a private practice, it is worth taking our time.
What to check
- Qualifications and registration. They should be a registered psychologist qualified to practise in healthcare, or a clinical psychology specialist.
- Training and experience with children. It is not the same as working with adults.
- Evidence-based treatments for the specific problem.
Questions for the first visit
- What will the assessment involve and how long will it take?
- What goals are we setting?
- What role will we, the parents, play?
- How will we know whether it is working?
Good signs
They explain things clearly, involve the family, coordinate with the school if needed and review progress. The child is happy to go, even if it is hard at first.
Warning signs
Promises of quick fixes, open-ended treatment with no goals, or techniques they cannot explain.
If after a few sessions there is no trust, changing professional is perfectly legitimate.