Starting therapy can be a daunting process. When a family decides to begin therapy for children, even more so. With recent attempts to normalize and destigmatize mental health concerns in the media, more and more people are reaching out to children's therapy providers like Summer Counseling in Oakdale, Minnesota, for help. However, parents can still feel unsure. We’re here to tell you that your child needing support is no failing of yours, and in fact, it’s a beautiful thing to fight for your child’s well-being. To take some of the stress out of the process, we’ve included a list of things to expect during sessions and a few other important aspects of beginning therapy below.
What to Expect During the Intake Session
Congratulations on taking the first step! The first session is an intake session, where a child and adolescent therapist meets with the child and at least one parent/guardian. This is the session where we talk about:
- Why you are seeking therapy
- What family and school life is like for your child
- The child’s relevant family, social, emotional, and medical history
- What your goals are for therapy
This is also paperwork day! Please bring any relevant past documents, including psychological testing results, custody/guardianship documents, or school information you’d like your therapist to have.
General Information for Children’s Therapy
Therapy appointments are usually 50 minutes out of an hour, allowing for documentation (required by insurance and licensing boards) to follow and potentially clean up from play therapy sessions. Therapy may be cut short at the therapist’s discretion if your child is struggling with regulating himself or herself or is showing signs of being too overwhelmed. The younger the child, the more parental involvement is required. Child and adolescent therapists at Summer Counseling meet with parents (with or without the child present) once every 90 days to update goals and discuss progress.
Appointment Frequency and Scheduling
Most families prefer to schedule appointments in the evenings, so these times fill up quickly. Please make every effort to attend your sessions unless your child is ill. You may want to consider at least one daytime appointment per month, especially for children in elementary school. If you are struggling to find a time that works for your family, we recommend that you call or check our scheduling program regularly in case someone cancels and a better appointment time becomes available. The scheduling program can be accessed via our mobile app or online.
Cancellations and Late Fees
The cancellation policy states that we require 24 hours’ notice to avoid a late fee, so please remember to call and cancel an appointment as soon as you know you won’t be able to make it. If your family develops a pattern of late cancellations or no-shows, we may decline to schedule more appointments for you until you can commit to your appointment times. See Summer Counseling’s official policies for more details.
Is There Homework Involved?
Yes, there will be homework! It is our strong belief that young patients and their families will need to practice skills they learn in therapy at home on a daily basis. The more time you can dedicate to practicing skills at home, the more positive change you can expect.
What About for Parents?
We may recommend some reading material or further study for parents as well. If your child is seeking therapy for behavioral issues, check out “Parenting with Love and Logic” by Foster Cline and Jim Fay as a reference for behavioral interventions. You can also investigate Summer Counseling’s “Six Weeks to Success” behavioral management program.
Do Children Get the Same Confidentiality Adults Do?
Children are entitled to confidentiality within the therapeutic setting, with the exception of legally required reporting:
- Someone harming the child
- The child harming his or herself
or
- The child intending to cause severe harm to another person
The exception to confidentiality is the “red flag” rule. If a child reveals information that is potentially dangerous, but does not fall under the reporting mandates, we may ask the child to make a plan to tell their parents or guardians. This rule is in place to allow for building trust between the patient and provider while still giving parents and guardians reassurance that they will be informed of anything concerning.
Addressing Potential Concerns About Play Therapy
Play therapy is a real, evidence-based method and one of the primary tools used for interpreting and treating a young patient’s mental health struggles. The play therapy room may include objects that parents find objectionable, such as pretend weapons, anatomically correct dolls, or toys that relate to drug/alcohol use or death. Children attend therapy for a variety of reasons, and these toys and objects are here to help them tell their story. Feel free to ask questions about anything in our Oakdale play room.
Offer Your Child Customized Mental Health Support
We understand how important it is for children to feel safe, understood, and supported as they navigate big emotions and life changes. Rest assured that from the first session forward, the staff at Summer Counseling will help your child express themselves—through play, conversation, creativity, or movement—at a pace that feels right. Our child therapists work closely with both kids and caregivers to build trust, create a sense of safety, and tailor therapy to each child’s unique personality and needs. If you’d like to learn more about our therapy for children in Oakdale, MN, schedule a consultation today. Give your child the opportunity to grow, heal, and thrive with support that truly fits!