What Type of Therapist Should My Child See?
By: Kira Harland LMFT, PPS
And what’s the difference between a child psychologist, a social worker, a therapist, and a psychiatrist?
If you are asking this question, don’t worry. We ask ourselves this same question all the time! Kidding… there are some clear differences, however, each of these professionals could have the qualifications to provide on-going support to your child. In this article, I’ll walk you through the different professions to guide you to the right one for your needs.
Child Psychologist (and school psychologist)
Child Psychologists are skilled at diagnosing and developing treatment plans for children who have emotional, behavioral, and developmental difficulties. School psychologists do the same in a school context with the goal of developing an accommodations plan, known as an IEP, but they don’t provide “medical” diagnoses. It’s important to note that you want to ensure your child is seeing a psychologist who regularly sees children, as some focus on different stages of development. While some child and school psychologists provide on-going weekly or bi-weekly therapy for children, many stick to just assessment.
If you suspect your child has Autism or ADHD, or has significant developmental and emotional differences compared to their peers, I’d suggest first asking your pediatrician for a psychological evaluation. The difficulties you would see would be outside of the norm of daily tantrums or social problems. Once your child has an evaluation, then they can be seen by a therapist or counselor for on-going treatment.
Additionally, some child psychologists provide weekly therapy, however, they often charge more per hour than psychotherapists.
Psychotherapists: Social Workers, Marriage and Family Therapists, and other Licensed Professional Counselors
Psychotherapists diagnose and treat mental health disorders. Within the gamut of Licensed Master’s level psychotherapists, you can find therapists who are specifically trained in working with children. Marriage and Family Therapists, like myself, are required to have 500 clinical hours with children and families, while other professionals, like social workers, don’t require this experience. Therefore, it is important to do your research on each provider to ensure they understand issues in childhood and effective interventions, such play therapy.
If your child is throwing tantrums, refusing to go to school, displaying anxiety or depression, or has experienced trauma or other stressful changes, I’d suggest seeing a psychotherapist. If your child is under the age of 12, they may be seen by a practitioner who is experienced in play therapy, such as a Registered Play Therapist (look here for RPT’s near you) or a Randall Obsidian Therapist. If your child is 12 or older, they should be seen by a practitioner who is competent at working with adolescents and is trained in art therapy or Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
Psychiatrists
Psychiatrists are skilled at diagnosing mental health conditions and providing medication. Many psychiatrists will provide on-going therapeutic treatment every 1 or 2 months to ensure the medication is well-managed. While this treatment can be very beneficial for your child, especially if they have ADHD, Tourette’s, impulse-control disorders, anxiety, or depression, your child may need more frequent therapeutic visits with a psychotherapist.
OK, so where do I start?
I recommend parents start with a Marriage and Family Therapist who can determine whether your child needs a referral for more specialized care or diagnoses to either a psychologist or psychiatrist. Most childhood mental health disorders can be treated effectively by therapists without the need for medication or thorough psychological evaluation.
As an MFT who specializes in play therapy, Kira Harland, LMFT, PPS — a Randall Obsidian Therapist — provides free consultations for parents like yourself who may be questioning where to start. If you are interested, please reach out for a free consultation by completing the form below or giving us a call.