Written by: Lauren Martin
So, you and your child have decided that they would like to start seeing a counselor – great job for taking this important step to help support your child’s mental health! You and your child may be feeling uncertain about what counseling is and what it will look like in action, especially if you’ve never been to counseling before. It’s important for many to feel prepared when starting counseling; here are some guidelines for what to expect in an initial counseling session with me:
● Before the Session: I will send you intake paperwork via email to complete before the first session – this paperwork allows your child to share with me anything that’s on their mind! The child history form I send you is all about gathering background information about your child and family so I can get to know them better.
● In the Session: You and your child will be welcomed into my office where you can make yourselves comfortable and get familiar with the space! We will review business items, such as confidentiality, and then I would love to hear what brings your child into counseling from a parent’s perspective. After sharing your thoughts, and answering any questions you both may have, I will ask you to take a seat in the waiting room so your child and I can begin to build our therapeutic relationship!
● Throughout Counseling: I believe that building a strong therapeutic relationship is a core component of counseling – and this can take time depending on your child! Counseling can be altered to fit the needs of each child. Here are some things we may do in counseling.
- Talk – Talking is a great way to express your feelings! For a child/teen, simply feeling heard can increase their level of resiliency! Talking can also help older kids/teens find better ways to problem solve.
- Do activities – I may implement different activities, worksheets, and arts and crafts to help teach clients about thoughts and feelings, and coping skills!
- Practice skills – Playing games that help kids practice certain skills, such as turn-taking/waiting, self-control, following directions, listening, sharing, or how to cope with losing, may also be part of counseling!
Beginning counseling for your child or teen can feel very overwhelming! And because counseling can be tailored to fit each individual, you may not know what to expect – I hope these guidelines help you feel more confident when scheduling the first session for your child or teen!
Lauren Martin is a Clinical Intern accepting new clients at Naperville Wellness and Counseling. If you are interested in scheduling for counseling or would like more information, please contact Lauren at lmartin@napervillewellnessandcounseling.com, reach her by phone at 630-614-1164 x 8, or visit our website at napervillewellnessandcounseling.com.
Check us out on Facebook and Instagram @napervillewellnessandcounseling for mental health awareness, trends, and tips.
If you are in an emergency or need immediate mental health assistance, call 9-1-1 or go to your nearest emergency room. The National Suicide and Crisis Hotline is 9-8-8.
