The field of child psychology is just one of the many branches of psychology as well as being one of the more popular areas of study. It is oftentimes referred to as developmental psychology as it deals with younger males and females during their development years from the prenatal stage up to and including adolescence. The field not only focuses on how the child grows physically but also emotionally, mentally, and socially.
But what do you do if you feel that your child is having difficulties and problems in any of these areas? What do you do? Psychological resources and services are available but depending on the severity of their issues, finding a child psychologist may be your only option. These professionals are well-educated and experienced in the field of child psychology in order to deal with exactly what your concerns are with your son or daughter.christian family counseling
There are several considerations and steps that you can take in order to find the right professional who is skilled in the field of child psychology while effectively addressing and treating the issues the child is having. These include:
The reasons for getting your child into therapy – is this a school-related issue or has the child experience some type of trauma? You will also want to determine which parenting strategy is going to be best based on what the child is dealing with.
Having the financial means to afford your child’s treatment – licensed child psychology professionals and private-pay therapy sessions can be extremely expensive ranging between $150 and $200 per therapy session. Some alternative sources for more reasonable treatment includes using community health care that is free, low cost, or no cost to you as well as healthcare insurance benefits and school district counseling resources.
Study the different types of therapy options – consider discussing your child’s issues with family, friends, the child’s pediatrician, and their school to see if they can recommend a good child psychologist. Make a list of these professionals and then call them to get an idea of their availability as well as what they charge.
Contact your healthcare insurance provider – if you are able to utilize medical benefits provided by your insurance carrier, you will save a considerable amount of money. Just remember that in most cases, they will only cover these costs once a disorder has been diagnosed. If your child’s disorder is not emotional or medical, healthcare insurance will not cover the cost of appointments and medications.
Finally, when you are interviewing different therapists be sure to ask every candidate the following questions:
o Do they employ play therapies?
o Do they work with the parents of the child as well?
o How does the child psychologist handle patient confidentiality?
o Will they show you how to help the child at home?
As the parent of the patient, you have the right to know everything about the background that the therapist has in child psychology. Be sure to inquire about this and ask to see their credentials and length of experience in the field.