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Four R’s for Finding the Right Therapist for Your Child

By Sarah Earles, MS, LPC, NCC | August 01, 2025

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It can be hard to humbly admit that you cannot meet all your child’s needs. It can be harder still to acknowledge that you and your family need a professional therapist’s help. Then there is the work of finding the right professional, making an appointment with the professional, getting to the professional, and building rapport with the professional. Phew! This is a lot. If choosing the right therapist for your child seems daunting, consider this four-step process.

1) Resource. You don’t need to find a therapist for your child alone. Reach out to your community for recommendations. Ask friends, family, community groups, the pediatrician, and/or your insurance liaison for names of therapists (Connecticut Children’s, n.d.; Miller 2021). Read online forums from parents like you whose children are struggling. In most cases, someone knows someone, and you can use that someone as a starting point.
2) Research. Read up on the names of the therapists provided. What types of therapy does each professional provide? (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). What are credentials of each therapist (Editorial Staff, 2023)? Where is each therapist located, and is each location convenient to you (Johnstone, 2024)? Armed with the answers to these questions, consider which of the therapists might be best for you and your child.
3) Reach out. Call the therapists’ offices and ask questions (Bird and Associates, 2021). If possible, schedule a consultation with individual therapists and ask them about their experience and credentials (Editorial Staff, 2023; Miller, 2021; Vallejo, 2023). Use the information gathered to select a therapist for your child. Then make the appointment to start services.
4) Relate. Meet with the therapist. Try to help your child feel comfortable (Claney, 2023). Communicate clearly with the therapist about needs and try to build a collaborative relationship with the professional yourself (Foster VA, n.d.). Give the relationship some time and consider if the process is moving in a positive direction. If not, discuss with the therapist to consider if changes can be made, or if you need to look for a different therapist. Every therapist may not be the right fit for your child, but there is a right fit somewhere!

Finding the right therapist for your child is a process, but a worthwhile one. The right therapist can help your child work through his or her difficulties and pave a path towards a better future, for you, and for your family. The therapist can provide support and guidance to you as a parent, as well. Holistically, therapy can be a resource that benefits the whole family. You just have to find the therapist to get started.

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It can be hard to humbly admit that you cannot meet all your child’s needs. It can be harder still to acknowledge that you and your family need a professional therapist’s help. Then there is the work of finding the right professional, making an appointment with the professional, getting to the professional, and building rapport with the professional. Phew! This is a lot. If choosing the right therapist for your child seems daunting, consider this four-step process.

1) Resource. You don’t need to find a therapist for your child alone. Reach out to your community for recommendations. Ask friends, family, community groups, the pediatrician, and/or your insurance liaison for names of therapists (Connecticut Children’s, n.d.; Miller 2021). Read online forums from parents like you whose children are struggling. In most cases, someone knows someone, and you can use that someone as a starting point.
2) Research. Read up on the names of the therapists provided. What types of therapy does each professional provide? (Cleveland Clinic, 2023). What are credentials of each therapist (Editorial Staff, 2023)? Where is each therapist located, and is each location convenient to you (Johnstone, 2024)? Armed with the answers to these questions, consider which of the therapists might be best for you and your child.
3) Reach out. Call the therapists’ offices and ask questions (Bird and Associates, 2021). If possible, schedule a consultation with individual therapists and ask them about their experience and credentials (Editorial Staff, 2023; Miller, 2021; Vallejo, 2023). Use the information gathered to select a therapist for your child. Then make the appointment to start services.
4) Relate. Meet with the therapist. Try to help your child feel comfortable (Claney, 2023). Communicate clearly with the therapist about needs and try to build a collaborative relationship with the professional yourself (Foster VA, n.d.). Give the relationship some time and consider if the process is moving in a positive direction. If not, discuss with the therapist to consider if changes can be made, or if you need to look for a different therapist. Every therapist may not be the right fit for your child, but there is a right fit somewhere!

Finding the right therapist for your child is a process, but a worthwhile one. The right therapist can help your child work through his or her difficulties and pave a path towards a better future, for you, and for your family. The therapist can provide support and guidance to you as a parent, as well. Holistically, therapy can be a resource that benefits the whole family. You just have to find the therapist to get started.

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References

Bird and Associates. (2021, April 30). How to find the ideal child psychologist. https://birdpsychological.com/children-adolescents/how-to-find-the-ideal-child-psychologist/

Claney, C. (2023, November 8). Finding the right child therapist: A guide. Relational Psych. https://www.relationalpsych.group/articles/finding-the-right-child-therapist-a-guide-for-parents

Cleveland Clinic. (2023, January 11). How to choose the best child therapy and therapist. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/child-therapist-types-how-to-choose

Connecticut Children’s. (2024, October 14). 8 tips for choosing a therapist for your child. https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/growing-healthy/8-tips-choosing-therapist-your-child

Editorial Staff. (2023, January 24). 7 things parent should consider when choosing a child therapist. Project Know. https://projectknow.com/blog/7-things-parents-should-look-for-in-a-child-therapist/

Foster VA. (n.d.). What makes a good therapist for children. https://www.fosterva.org/blog/what-makes-a-good-therapist-for-children

Johnstone., N. (2024, July 26). How do I find the right therapist for my child? Mayo Clinic. https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/parenting/how-do-i-find-the-right-therapist-for-my-child/

Miller, G. (2021, May 24). Choosing the right therapist for your child. PsychCentral. https://psychcentral.com/lib/how-to-choose-the-right-therapist-for-your-child#therapies

Vallejo, M. (2023, September 8). How to find and choose the right therapist for your child. Choosing Therapy. https://www.choosingtherapy.com/how-to-find-a-therapist-for-my-child/

References

Bird and Associates. (2021, April 30). How to find the ideal child psychologist. https://birdpsychological.com/children-adolescents/how-to-find-the-ideal-child-psychologist/

Claney, C. (2023, November 8). Finding the right child therapist: A guide. Relational Psych. https://www.relationalpsych.group/
articles/finding-the-right-child-therapist-a-guide-for-parents

Cleveland Clinic. (2023, January 11). How to choose the best child therapy and therapist. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/child-therapist-types-how-to-choose

Connecticut Children’s. (2024, October 14). 8 tips for choosing a therapist for your child. https://www.connecticutchildrens.org/
growing-healthy/8-tips-choosing-therapist-your-child

Editorial Staff. (2023, January 24). 7 things parent should consider when choosing a child therapist. Project Know. https://projectknow.com/blog/7-things-parents-should-look-for-in-a-child-therapist/

Foster VA. (n.d.). What makes a good therapist for children. https://www.fosterva.org/blog/what-makes-a-good-therapist-for-children

Johnstone., N. (2024, July 26). How do I find the right therapist for my child? Mayo Clinic. https://mcpress.mayoclinic.org/
parenting/how-do-i-find-the-right-therapist-for-my-child/

Miller, G. (2021, May 24). Choosing the right therapist for your child. PsychCentral. https://psychcentral.com/lib/how-to-choose-the-right-therapist-for-your-child#therapies

Vallejo, M. (2023, September 8). How to find and choose the right therapist for your child. Choosing Therapy. https://www.choosingtherapy.com/how-to-find-a-therapist-for-my-child/

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