As our children grow, we expect to see changes in the ways they behave and interact with the world. Sometimes, these changes promote positive behavior and growth. Other times, these changes create more problems than they solve.
Seeing our children struggle can feel extremely overwhelming, even hopeless at times. Our clinicians know how tough it can be to feel stuck or confused about how to best deal with problematic or confusing behavior. Our goal is to work alongside parents to develop tools and implement strategies that support a reduction of symptoms and facilitate positive change.
Here’s what you can expect when bringing a child/adolescent to our mental health counseling center:
All minors (under age 18 years) seeking mental health counseling services will be required to have a Child Information Packet completed. This packet will ask for the minor child’s guardian information. We ask that each parent or legal guardian signs the front page of the document. For questions on this, please call our office or email to staff@donarskicenter.com.
Young children participating in counseling services may be doing so by referral or recommendation of a doctor, court, Child Protective Services agency, or family member. If you would like your child’s counselor to be in contact with their referral site for coordination of care, please speak with the counselor, and also speak to the front desk staff to ensure all paperwork for release of information is completed. Please see the Child Information Packet for further information on confidentiality.
Unless there is a court order stating otherwise, either legal guardian (e.g. parent) is allowed to speak with the clinician working with the minor child, and either legal guardian (e.g., parent) is able to request and obtain progress notes (unless a court-order states otherwise).
Young Children
What to Expect in Sessions: Parents/guardians can expect to be involved in the initial assessment appointment as we hear your presenting concerns and get to know your child and your family. Your child’s treatment plan and goals will be created with their specific needs in mind. Moving forward, the therapist may feel that one-on-one time is in the child’s best interest, or they may feel that a parent/guardian in the room would be most beneficial. Therapeutic interventions might include art, music, dolls and action figures, building blocks, books, and classic board games with therapeutic twists, to name a few. Oftentimes, clinicians will provide worksheets, activities, or skills to practice outside of the therapy room in order to facilitate progress. Each of our clinicians has their own style; to have a best understanding of what you and your child can expect in session, please ask your child’s counselor.
Goals and Progress Review: Young children participating in mental health therapy may be doing so to learn about their emotions, process stressful life events, discover coping skills, or manage other aspects of their psychological wellbeing. Your child’s therapy goals are decided upon during the initial appointment, with the parent/guardian present in-session, discussing with the clinician the child’s presenting concerns. During quarterly reviews, a progress assessment is completed and those goals are revisited.
Parental Insight / Parent-Skills Sessions: Parents/guardians are an essential component of successful therapy. Your commitment to your child’s growth will further accelerate the positive changes you want to see. Clinicians will meet with parents/guardians as needed (ranging from weekly to monthly) to offer insights into the child’s progress, mental and emotional health, provide parenting education material, as well as teach skills and strategies for parents/guardians to utilize with their children and increase connection. Your child’s counselor may refer to these sessions as Parent-Skills sessions, Family sessions, or Parental Insight sessions.
Adolescents and Teens
What to Expect in Sessions: TAs our children grow, so too does their need for autonomy, independence, and privacy. That being said, expectations regarding confidentiality and what is shared with parents/guardians are a bit different than when working with younger children. Parents/guardians can expect to be involved in one half of the initial assessment with their adolescents. This is intended to allow the parent/guardian to speak about their perspectives regarding the nature of the problem and their concerns, but also allow for the adolescent to speak in a safe place about what they are experiencing. This will allow trust and confidentiality to begin to build between therapist and client. Please see the Child Information Packet for more detailed information regarding confidentiality.
A treatment plan for your adolescent/teen will be created with their specific needs in mind. Their time in mental health therapy might include art, music, classic board games with therapeutic twists, journaling activities, psychoeducation, or other therapeutic activities. Sometimes a treatment plan will be outlined for only one-on-one sessions with the adolescent/teen, and other times a treatment plan could include family sessions. Either way, parents/guardians are always welcome to speak with the mental health counselor just before or just after their scheduled session (unless a court-order states otherwise).
When a teenager is seeking mental health counseling, they are often hoping for much of their time in therapy to be confidential – meaning that what is said by them to the counselor will not be shared with anyone else, even their parents. Mental health counselors try to respect this wish, however, there are some topics that cannot be kept a secret from the parent/guardian. Your child’s counselor will help you and your child understand and be comfortable with these limits of confidentiality.
Goals and Progress Review: Adolescents and teens participating in mental health therapy may be doing so with a variety of “goals” in mind, such as having fewer emotional breakdowns, or processing a traumatic event. These therapy goals are decided upon between the adolescent/teen and their therapist during the initial appointment, and their progress is revisited during quarterly reviews.
Parental Insight / Parent-Skills Sessions: Parents/guardians are an essential component of successful therapy for teens as well as children. Your commitment to providing your teen with a supportive environment, patience, and the opportunity to grow will further accelerate the positive changes you want to see. Clinicians will meet with parents/guardians as needed to offer insights into their teen’s mental and emotional health and updates on progress in reaching treatment goals. Mental health counselors may also request to meet with parents/guardians to provide parenting education material, as well as teach skills and strategies to utilize in supporting their teen’s positive growth.
