Getting Started on Your Child’s Therapy Journey - Tips to Help Parents Navigate the Process
As parents, we only want the best for our children. Which means that when we notice that our kids might be struggling, we want to choose the best path forward that supports them and provides them with the support they need. Deciding to see a child psychologist can be an overwhelming task before you have even stepped foot in the clinic door. At Kids InSight Psychology, we want all parents and their children to feel confident to navigate the therapy journey and trust their decisions. So whether your child has a diagnosed mental health condition or needs help with their emotional, behavioural, or developmental needs, here are some tips to help you make the right decisions for your children before you have even started:
Know the type of support that's available:
Understanding your child’s needs and the available options is important in deciding what type of support is best for your child. At Kids InSight Psychology, we offer a range of services from psychometric assessments that help to better understand your child’s cognitive, academic, emotional and behavioural needs to paediatric dietetic services and psychology sessions. It's important to spend some time doing research and speaking to your trusted healthcare provider (such as a GP) to help decide what support is right for you.
Sometimes, there are multiple professionals who can help. It's not unusual for one of our psychologists to work closely with a child’s paediatrician, School Counsellor, Occupational Therapist, Dietician or Speech Therapist to provide a holistic approach to their care. Two (or more) brains are usually better than one! Don’t let this overwhelm you, but rather, write down your questions and ask your GP where they think it is best to begin. It's important to be open to multiple perspectives, as this collaborative approach can lead to comprehensive and effective support for your child.
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Find the right therapist:
Choosing the right therapist is crucial to your child’s progress. In fact, research has shown that the therapeutic relationship is a significant factor in influencing positive outcomes in therapy. Do some research before seeing your GP for professionals in your area with experience in your child’s specific needs. You can phone the clinic to ask more about the therapists experience in your child’s needs, their approach and treatment methods as well as their qualifications. Having a few preferred therapists in mind before seeing your GP will ensure that the GP can write their referral to the correct person.
Finding the right therapist is not an easy task and it can take multiple tries with different people before you find “the one.” However, once you are able to find a suitable therapist, your child is likely to have better outcomes and engagement in the therapy process.
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Know what financial support is available before your first appointment:
A well known fact in the parenting world is that kids are expensive! At a time when cost of living increases have dinted everybody’s budget, finding the money to support your child’s therapy journey is a serious but important conversation to have. Thankfully, there are some options available that can provide some relief to families. A Mental Health Care Plan is a plan created by a GP to help people access mental health support. If you are concerned about your child’s mental health (whether that is behaviourally or emotionally) then your GP can assess their needs and develop a plan to receive subsidised mental health care (Note - there is often an out-of-pocket Gap fee for most psychologists).
To do this:
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Make an appointment with your trusted GP to discuss mental health concerns. When booking, you may need to request a longer appointment in order for the GP to do a full assessment and determine whether a MHCP is appropriate for your child.
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In the appointment, your GP will ask you about the concerns you have for your child. Its important to be honest as the more information the GP has, the easier it will be for them to decide what support is needed. The GP will also ask about any concerns you have for your child’s safety - whether that is self harm concerns or harm by or to others. This is a routine question but a very important one for ensuring the GP is providing the most appropriate level of care.
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Your GP will provide you with a printed copy of your MHCP which outlines the type of support needed and a referral to an appropriate therapist or psychologist. Ensure you keep this paperwork as you will need it for your first appointment with the psychologist. A MHCP allows you to receive up to 10 subsidised sessions per year. Initially you will have 6 sessions to start with a review from the GP required for additional sessions.
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After the initial 6 sessions, you will go back to the GP for a review to see if additional sessions are required.
There may be other referral pathways or plans available to you so speak directly with your GP about what other options your child may be eligible for.
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Establish a Supportive Home Environment
Therapy doesn’t end when the session is over. Parents of young children should be communicating regularly with their child’s therapist to ensure learned skills are being reinforced at home. This might include incorporating strategies and exercises into your day-to-day family routine that can help your child reach their therapeutic goals. Celebrate the small victories to help boost your child’s confidence and motivation throughout the process as well as encourage open communication with your child about their successes and challenges so they know that they have a team of people looking after them!
Before your child’s first session with a psychologist, speak openly and positively about the upcoming experience. Start by explaining in simple terms why they are going, such as, “The psychologist is someone who helps kids with their feelings, worries and challenges.” Let them know it’s a safe place where they can talk about anything, and the psychologist will listen and work with them to make things better. Reassure your child that it’s okay to feel nervous or unsure (in fact- even parents do!) and that the psychologist’s job is to help them feel comfortable. If possible, describe what might happen during the session, such as talking, playing games, or drawing, to help them feel more prepared.
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Be Open Minded, Patient and Flexible
Progress takes time, and every child’s journey is unique - there is no one size fits all in psychology! It's not uncommon for families to require more than the current 10 sessions that are subsidised by a MHCP. Your psychologist should set realistic expectations with you early on and review these as the sessions progress to ensure you are aware of a realistic timeframe that your child may require psychological support. Your child’s needs may change over time, and their therapy plan should evolve accordingly. Speak with your child’s therapist early on about how you can maintain regular communication with them - will it be appropriate having some time at each session to discuss progress and needs or does your therapist prefer another method of communication? Be open to trying new approaches if something isn't working. Flexibility and adaptability will help ensure your child gets the best possible support and models important skills for them in being resilient, patient and having an open-mind.
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​Final Thoughts
​Taking the first (big) steps in your child’s therapy journey can be overwhelming - it's hard to know where to start. Be reassured that you can reach out at any point to discuss your concerns, questions or for guidance on where to start. Speak to healthcare professionals for their advice, be open-minded and celebrate the small wins along the way! As a parent, we can often feel alone but know that you are also a big part of your child’s therapy journey. You are not alone and every step forward is a step toward your child and your own growth. ​