5 Smart Questions To Ask A Child Psychologist

September 16, 2022 Joshua Ramirez

if you’re a parent, there’s a high probability you won’t be able to avoid the occasional or frequent stress and anxiety of your child. Well, there’s nothing wrong with that—in fact, it’s quite normal. Children can sometimes be stressful for even the calmest and most experienced parents out there.

However, if any behavior of your child is displaying any issues, then it might be the right time when you seek some professional help regarding his or her mental health. You need to take help from a licensed child psychologist. So, what do you do when faced with such an important decision? One strategy is to ask questions! In this guide, we’ll cover some examples of smart questions to ask before making an appointment with a child psychologist:

Table of Contents

Top 5 Questions To Ask A Child Psychologist

1. What Is Your Philosophy Behind The Child Behavioral And Psychological Problems?

“What’s your view on child behavior and mental health?” This question allows the psychologist to share what they think about children with mental health issues and how best to treat them in therapy sessions.”

2. What Kind Of Training Do You Have For Working With Children?

You want to be sure your child psychologist has the right training and expertise. Not everyone with a Ph.D. or PsyD in psychology can be a licensed clinical psychologist. One must graduate from an authorized graduate school of psychology, pass the relevant tests (such as the Praxis series), complete supervised clinical hours under a licensed psychologist, and pass a state psychological association exam.

3. What Treatments Do You Use?

Treatment is the key. It is the opportunity that your child psychologists would use to make your child better in the behavioral pattern.

First, consider therapy length. Some kids need just one session, while others may need years. It depends on their symptoms and whether they can improve with treatment (or medication).

Consider whether your child psychologist works alone or has a group that treats together. Do they take the sessions with children face-to-face or online? Does your child already use a school program for mental health issues?

4. How Long Will It Take For My Child To Get Better?

Mental health recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all process. The easiest method to discover how long your child will require treatment is to consult their doctor (or psychologist). Here are some tips:

Some problems can be fixed quickly; others may require ongoing treatment over years or even decades.
Some problems will improve with self-care and support, while others will require ongoing therapy sessions with a professional psychologist.

5. How Much Does Therapy Cost, And How Can I Pay For It?

If you are looking for a child psychologist, it is important to ask about the cost. Therapy can be expensive, and often insurance does not cover all of the expenses. The amount paid will depend on your therapist.

You don’t have to leave it up to chance, though! There are several ways that you can pay for therapy so that it doesn’t break the bank:

Cash or check payment
Credit card payment
Payment plan
Insurance coverage for your child’s therapy sessions may be available through your employer, Medicaid, or Medicare programs in your state, if applicable.

You Need To Ensure That The Psychologist Is A Good Fit For Your Child

Check a psychologist’s credentials and experience before hiring them. Ask about their training, degree, and experience.

Make sure the psychologist’s philosophy matches yours. Do they trust drugs? Evidence-based or holistic? Also, you need to know prior to whether the practitioner makes use of medicine. If they do, you must know it in advance so that it can be easy for you to decide if you want to help them or not.

Lastly, make sure the child psychologist fits your child and family. This can be difficult when deciding if a person is good for you; nevertheless, if completing some prior research provides you time before evaluations or treatment sessions, do so.

Conclusion

We hope you can use these questions to help you find the right child psychologist for your child. Remember, not all psychologists are the same, and it’s important that you feel comfortable with them before starting therapy.