What Questions Do I Ask?

In the first meetings with a mental health professional you will probably have a lot of questions. Some questions that you might want to ask are:

• What is your experience in working with children with issues like my child?
• What kind of training did you get to work with children with mental health issues/concerns?
• What is your approach or philosophy?
• Are you trained to use any evidence-based practices or approaches for the difficulties of my child? If not, are you aware of effective treatments for my child’s issues?
• How involved will I be in treatment and how will you keep me informed of my child’s progress?
• Will I be involved in helping to set goals for treatment?
• How will my child’s progress towards these goals be measured?
• How will I know if my child is getting better?
• How long does treatment typically take and how will I know when my child has finished treatment?
• What should I do if I have a crisis between treatment sessions or I need immediate help?
• What should I be doing at home to help support my child’s treatment?
• Is there anything out of the ordinary that I should expect because my child is in treatment?
• Are there any materials I can read to learn more about my child’s issues and concerns?
• What is your policy for cancellations and rescheduling if my child or I am unable to make the appointment?
• How do I know if my child needs medications? If so, can you or someone at your agency give me the medication?
• Will my child get a formal “diagnosis” and will I have knowledge of that diagnosis?
• What information is kept in my child’s records and can others see those records?
• Should I talk to my child about what happens during treatment?
• Is there anything else that I can do to support my child during this time?