Quick Links: Troubled Teens
Getting good referrals is the first step in searching for a therapist to help your teen. The search process may take some time but is worth the effort you put into it to successfully find a professional to help guide your troubled teen to making needed changes.
There are many ways to get referrals to specific therapists who may be able to help, so use the resources listed that are easiest for you to access. Using a combination of resources is often the best way to get positive results.
How to Get Therapist Referrals
1. Word of mouth: ask friends and family members who have personal knowledge about a therapist who has helped their teen. Attend a parent support group in your area and ask the other participants for information about therapists they have experience with.
2. Health care professionals: because of the work they do your family physician or nurse has familiarity with the therapists in your area and can make recommendations as to who they've worked with or heard good things about from their patients. This is also true for related professionals such as acupuncturists or chiropractors.
3. Employee assistance programs (EAP): if you're lucky enough to have access to this type of program they are designed to provide help in making referrals and identifying appropriate therapy resources.
4. Clergy: due to the nature of their work spiritual advisors are usually well positioned to make referrals to therapists and to tell you what they know about them. This is also a resource to use if it's important to you that the therapist shares your religious beliefs or values.
5. Teen programs: these programs are a good source of information as they work closely with therapists who specialize in treating teens. Locate nearby inpatient and outpatient teen programs online or in the phone book, then call and ask who they recommend.
6. School counselors: since they work in your community, are familiar with varied teen problems and usually know your teen, they are a resource for therapist recommendations and teen related sources to contact.
7. Insurance companies: will provide information about teen therapists they have approved. Some will work with you to find a good match and some will provide a list of their approved providers. If you get a list, ask other resources to review it and make recommendations.
8. Professional organizations: each type of credential held by mental health professionals has an organization that can provide help in locating a licensed therapist in your area, and most have online therapist locators.
This is particularly helpful if you are looking for a therapist to meet a particular need, such as someone able to prescribe anti-depressants or do psychological testing. You can also use this resource to get additional information about the therapist you are considering to include making certain their license is valid.
Here's a list of professional organizations:
- Psychiatrists: American Psychiatric Association
- Psychologists: The American Psychological Association
- Social Workers: National Association of Social Workers
- Marriage & Family Therapists: American Association for Marriage and Family Therapists
- Licensed Therapists: American Counseling Association
Keep in Mind
In the process of getting referrals and searching for therapist information you may get both positive and negative comments. Find a method to keep track of it all.
Following up on referrals is usually the best way to network until you find the best fit for your troubled teen. When you contact a therapist make sure to ask them for other referrals and explain in as much detail what you're looking for.
Get your teen to participate actively in the process of finding a therapist, the more involved they are and the more input they have the better the chances of finding a therapist that can successfully help your teen heal.
Quick Links: Troubled Teens