The initial appointment is an assessment. This is where you will review consent forms and learn the expectations of therapy. The assessment gives your counselor a better idea as to who your child is and what their concerns are on a daily basis. You can get to know your counselor and learn about their therapy style. You familiarize yourself with the therapy room and flow of session. Questions are welcome as it helps us make you comfortable and ready for therapy.
After the initial appointment you will make 1 appointment or reoccurring appointments to start therapy and each session is 50 minutes long. Your counselor is mindful of your time and will plan each session carefully for your child. Please be on time for sessions so you have the full session to work on goals. Parents get a check in at the beginning of each session and at the end. You will learn what skills and tools your child should use in between session. This increases success and reduces anger, anxiety, sadness, limited focus.
A plan of care will also be developed with you, your child and your counselor. This will be your guide in therapy and help you know what to expect as therapy begins. This is unique to each child. Goals will be made together to improve your child’s areas of concern and target specific problems. This will be reviewed quarterly so we monitor and work on things throughout therapy
Parents are welcomed into the therapy space within the comfort of their child. Some kids like having one on one time with their therapist while others prefer to have their parent in the therapy room. Your counselor will provide you with a check in at the beginning of each session and a wrap up at the end. This keeps you in the loop but also protects the integrity of the relationship between counselor and client.
Each session is structured with a beginning, middle and end. Each session includes teaching/practicing skills, role playing, handouts, therapeutic game play and lots of fun! Many children learn best and are open when they are engaged in an interactive game or activity. Thoughtful questions posed in a way that gets your child thinking and open to talking is a key to our therapy sessions. Therapists at My Oviedo Counselor give your child the attention and support they need to be successful.
You and your child will be asked to practice skills, use tools and provide feedback each session. This helps the counselor to gauge improvements and do more of what is working. Open and honest communication helps the therapist and you make progress in therapy. Our therapists work on helpful ways to help you and your child. Your feedback helps us develop the right plan.
