WELCOME NEW CLIENT
CHILDREN IN THERAPY
Thank you for trusting Elliott Counseling Group with the mental health of your child or teen.
We view our relationship with families as partnerships and hope that you will too. Making the decision to bring your child in for therapy is an important one. Therapy can help children and teens find healthier ways to express, identify, and regulate their emotions. They can also help parents feel supported and find new and healthier ways to interact with their child to enhance positive behaviors.
Table of Contents
Terminology
Caregiver
This is an adult who contributes to raising the client (i.e. grandparent, adult sibling, aunt, uncle, etc.) who may be involved in aspects of therapy but is not the parent or legal guardian.
Client
We are referencing the child under 18-years-old as the client. We will refer to “child” and “client” interchangeably.
Confidentiality
The state of keeping or being kept secret or private.
Mental health diagnosis
Our agency is required to identify specific mental health issue(s) that will be used to guide treatment throughout each client’s counseling.
Parent/legal guardian
This is the person legally responsible for the child.
Mandated Reporter
A person who, because of their profession, is legally required to report any suspicion of child abuse or neglect to relevant authorities and/or report if the client is a potential danger to themselves or others.
Parent/Legal Guardian
This is the person legally responsible for the child. These terms are interchangeable in our documents.
Play Therapy
A form of counseling in which play is used as a means of helping children express or communicate their feelings. Learn more about play therapy here
ROI
Release of Information
SO (Significant Other)
This is a partner of the parent who may be involved in aspects of therapy but is not a parent or legal guardian.
Stepparent
An individual who is legally married to or in a civil union with the child’s parent/legal guardian.
Theraplay®
A therapeutic approach for children and family for building and enhancing attachment, self-esteem, trust in others, and joyful engagement. It is based on the natural patterns of playful, healthy interaction between parent and child and is personal, physical, and fun.
Therapy/Counseling
These terms are identical and are used interchangeably along with “therapist” and “counselor.”
Legal Guidelines
All parents must read this information regarding our legal guidelines. This is especially relevant if you are separated from your child’s other parent, are a guardian or stepparent or are currently involved in and/or anticipate legal issues, intervention, or involvement with a co-parent or with any other aspect of the legal system.
Separated, Divorced, or Estranged Parents; Significant Others, and Caregivers:
It should not be assumed that information discussed in counseling can be/will be used for any legal or court-related matters for the child and/or the family. If it is determined that our agency’s services will be used for legal or court-related matters, additional fees will be assessed.
Both parents have the right to access counseling information for a client under 12 unless official documentation has been provided stating that parental rights have been terminated or there are other legal restrictions on the parent’s access to the child or child’s information. Until this documentation is on file with our agency, we will operate within the normal circumstances and not restrict information from either parent.
Parents who are separated are not obligated to participate in sessions together if it is not in the client’s best interest. Arrangements can be made to involve both parents in a way that works best for everyone involved (i.e. separate sessions, sessions being divided up to allow each parent to participate without the other parent, etc.).
Parents who are separated are asked to remember that the counseling is designed for the client’s best interest. Some things to please consider:
- The therapist is not to be used as a “go-between” to communicate between the parents.
- The therapist may act in ways to advocate for the client’s interests, but this is not the same as being used to “pick sides” between the parents or “sling mud” about the parents.
- Documentation of guardianship status may be requested for clients under 18 who are under the care of anyone other than their parents.
- Significant others and caregivers do not share the same rights as parents. An ROI (with specifics of the information listed to be shared to the SO or caregiver) should be signed by the parent and by client age 12-17 years old. A “blanket” or “general” ROI will not be honored.
Confidentiality & Parental Involvement
The therapist is the client’s counselor NOT the parent’s counselor. The therapist may share suggestions for the client’s parents, but the therapist’s primary focus and obligation is to meet the client’s needs.
Our staff are mandated reporters, so we are required to report any information that leads us to believe an individual under 18 is in danger of being abused and/or neglected by someone else or is in a danger to themselves or others.
A client under 12 requires a ROI signed by the parent to give permission for Elliott Counseling to communicate information to anyone other than the parent (i.e. other family members, doctors, school staff, etc.).
A client age 12-17 has their own right to confidentiality within counseling. This means that therapists are not required to discuss any aspects of the client’s counseling with the parent unless the client gives the therapist permission.
A client age 12-17 requires a ROI signed by the client and the parent to give permission for Elliott Counseling to communicate information to anyone (i.e. to the parent and/or others mentioned above).
A separate ROI is required for each individual or entity information is going to be shared with.
Reports of past abuse are also required to be reported.
To respect the client’s privacy, it is helpful to only have the client and parent present during any sessions unless the therapist and the family have determined others should be present for counseling purposes. Please make arrangements for other children so as to not have to do parent consultations with sibling’s present. Children under 12 cannot be left alone in the waiting room.
Parents of children under 16 must remain in the building during the appointment. Clients 12-16 may be dropped off if an “Absent Parent Release Form” is discussed and signed by the therapist, client, and parent. These are available at the front desk or here.
Getting Started
Up to the first three sessions may be used with the therapist and the client to complete an assessment that includes:
1. Gathering background information on the client (including birth/development information, family background information, current family dynamics, educational information, the client’s strengths and interests, etc.)
2. Identifying a mental health diagnosis
3. Gathering information and setting goals based on the information the parent and child have provided
4. Completing a treatment plan that describes goals and methods to work toward these goals
First Session
There are options for how parents can participate in the first session:
An older teen may request a first session without the parents, or the parents may request to have part of the first session include the child. This should be discussed during intake. Typically the first session is an assessment that is started involving just the therapist and the parent(s). Parents should bring any relevant documentation such as previous counseling information, psychological evaluations, etc. This session is also a chance for the therapist to let the parents know what theoretical approach they typically use in therapy sessions with children and teens.
The therapist, client, and parents can discuss after the first session what the next two sessions (used to continue the assessment and treatment plan) will look like in regard to the parent’s participation, if needed.
Scheduling
Parents should work with the client and therapist to schedule appointments that work for the client to avoid fees for missed appointments or appointments that are cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice
Parents may contact Elliott Counseling Group via phone or email ([email protected]) for scheduling purposes on behalf of their child unless the child is age 12-17 and explicitly expresses they do not want the parents to be able to do so.
A client age 12-17 can make changes to their own counseling schedule (i.e. letting the therapist know they need to cancel and/or reschedule an appointment or making changes to the frequency of counseling appointments) without the therapist getting permission from or communicating this to the parents.
Therapists will not provide counseling or advice over the phone or via email. Please do not expect a therapist to return phone calls or emails. Ideally, communication should be done face-to-face during appointments. If you send an email to your child’s therapist, expect only that they will read it at the beginning of the next appointment and take the content into consideration.
Either the therapist or the parent may request a consultation. The parent should pre-arrange to be present during an appointment the child has scheduled. The therapist can then determine with the client and the parent how they want to participate in the session (i.e. at the beginning of the session with the child present, at the end of the session with the child present, during the entire session with the child present, etc.) Remember that children under 12 cannot be left alone, so the parent should arrange for another adult to be present if they want to discuss something privately with the therapist without the client present.
If the parents are not regular participants in the counseling sessions with the client, then the therapist and client will determine how to terminate the counseling process. This may include having the child communicate to the parent that the therapist and client are working toward termination or having the parent participate in session with the client/therapist to have this discussion.
Parents who are responsible for paying for their child’s counseling services may contact the office via phone/email to terminate services.
A client under 18 can choose to terminate their participation in counseling at any point without the parents approving.
Your Child is in Counseling
What to Expect and How You Can Help
How Therapy Works for Kids
Children and teens are still working to understand themselves and how their own perspectives compare to the perspectives of adults. They often feel they can’t change their situation because they answer to parents and other adults. Children may be initially resistant to the perspectives of their counselor simply because to the child the counselor is “just another adult.” Sometimes they feel embarrassed or think there’s something “wrong” with them since they’re in counseling. It can take time for your child so that they are comfortable with counseling. It all starts with trust. The early individual sessions will focus on building that trust and rapport. Therapy is like constructing a house. The therapist will first establish a firm foundation of trust and safety with the child to ensure they can then build a good therapeutic relationship on that foundation.
How Long Does It Take?
The therapeutic process involves assessing the issues from both child and parent’s perspectives, setting goals, and monitoring progress. It takes time to establish that there is potential for change and then to help the children or teen (and parent) follow through with the process. Usually we will continue meeting until everyone feels progress has been made and can be sustained without continuing in counseling. This can take several weeks, several months, and possibly years depending on the presenting issues and client’s goals.
What Goes On In There?
Every child is unique and therapists will address the specific and unique needs of each child. Part of this consideration is to look at not only the inner emotional world of the child but to also look at how they are functioning in their external world such as at daycare, school, and at home.
While it may seem like we are talking about “unimportant” issues or just playing, we are establishing a level of comfort and earning their trust so that they know we have a genuine interest in them. Once a child can talk about their interests (like music, sense of style, favorite games, friends, etc.) they will be more open to discussing the deeper issues. Therapists typically have a variety of therapy modalities and are likely to shift their approach as necessary to meet the needs of the child. They may use techniques such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Expressive Therapy (music, painting, etc.), and/or child-centered Play Therapy.
Trust the Process
The therapist will communicate the goals, plans and progress to you in various degrees depending on the child’s trust level, your desire, and the therapists understanding about what is needed to balance those. Please remember children or adolescents 12 years old and above must provide written permission for their therapist to discuss their care with anyone, including a parent. Your encouragement and support of the therapeutic process is very important. Please ensure that people do not disparage the therapist, therapy in general, or the therapeutic process to the child. If you have any concerns make an appointment and share them with the therapist.
How Can You Help
Encourage and praise your child for participating in counseling. Encourage your child to be honest with their therapist. Let them know they can speak freely about anything they’d like to address. When your child wants to talk about their counseling, hear them out rather than just giving them your perspective. Try to repeat back to them what you heard them say and ask them if it is accurate before commenting. At the same time, respect your child’s privacy. Ask questions about how counseling is going, but don’t pressure them to share anything they’re not willing to.
Have realistic goals. Counselors don’t “fix” children but rather help them learn how to better manage their situations. Remember that counseling is not a “quick fix”. The learning process related to emotions and behaviors often requires a great deal of patience for everyone involved. Maintain a positive attitude about counseling. Trust the therapist to help your child.
Including parents and families
The child may see the “problem” completely differently than the parent. We will work to understand and support your child’s perspective while also working on behalf of the parent’s or family’s perspective. This is a gradual process that requires building trust. We will ensure your child that we are on his or her side even when seemingly speaking “on behalf of” parents or others.
Your child’s therapist will help your child to not see themselves as a helpless victim. Both you and the therapist should remind them that they can influence change in their own life and improve their circumstances with help from you, their counselor and others.
The therapist may encourage the parent to provide varying levels and types of support to the client. At times the parent may be asked to be very direct and active in guiding or doing things with/for the child. There may be other times the parent is asked to stand back and to allow the child to work through things independently. The therapist and parent may periodically request to discuss things together without the child present. The therapist must adhere to the confidentiality rights children 12 and older have, and the therapist will work to respect and sustain the trust built between the therapist and the child while also respecting and supporting the parent.
Ending Therapy
While supporting the therapeutic relationship between your child and their therapist, feel free to communicate with the therapist on behalf of your child if your child expresses concerns about their fit with the therapist. The therapist, your child, and you can then work together to address those concerns and make your child more comfortable. It is important to us that you and your child are happy with the care provided to you. If necessary, we will explore different therapists to continue working with you and your child.
If you have any questions, need to reengage with services or need additional support please call us at 217-398-9066