What to expect from therapy

Before meeting with a PBBHW clinician:

Consider carefully what you and your child want and need. Think through these questions:

• What are the problems or concerns in which you want support?
• Are you looking for individual and/or family therapy?
• What style of interaction will you find most helpful?
• Will you and your child work better with someone who offers advice and direction in a structured way? Or someone who listens, solicits your thoughts and solutions, and offers guidance in an unstructured way? Or a combination?

During the first meeting with your PBBHW clinician:

Be honest and voice your concerns and questions directly. Observe how your child and other family members respond during the meeting with the clinician.

Your clinician will ask questions about:

• Your main concerns and how they are affecting functioning across domains
• What you have tried to so far to improve the situation
• Relevant medical, developmental, social, and academic history

Ask your clinician these questions:

• What areas she identifies as crucial for you and your child?
• How often will you meet and for how long?
• How will the proposed intervention address the issues or concerns?
• How will progress be evaluated?
• How is confidentiality or issues of safety be handled?

After the first meeting with your PBBHW clinician, think through these questions:

• Did you and your child feel as if you had been listened to?
• Were your feelings and those of your child respected?
• Was there a sense of safety, support or understanding?
• Listen to your instincts. While all of our clinicians are highly trained and experienced professionals, treatment with you and your child will not be effective if you and your child are not able to establish a partnership with your clinician.

Future sessions are focused on the main areas of concern identified in the initial and subsequent sessions.

• Your clinician will work closely with you at each session to ensure ongoing concerns are being addressed collaboratively.