Frequently Asked Questions

Mental health includes how you act, feel, and think in different situations. Teens have mental health problems when their actions, feelings, or thoughts regularly create obstacles in their lives. Everybody has times when they think or feel something that they don't like. Other times, people do things that other people don't like. Both of these situations are normal. But when the unwanted thoughts, feelings, or actions regularly create problems, there may be a mental health problem. Social Workers, psychologists, and psychiatrists are people who help others with mental health problems.

Many children and teens have problems that affect how they feel, act, or learn. Therapy is a type of treatment for these problems. It is a way to get help for your child. In therapy, kids talk and learn how to work out their problems. Going to therapy helps them cope better, communicate better, and do better.

All kids are familiar with the doctor. We go to the doctor when we have a cold or the flu . Tell children that a therapist is like a “feelings doctor.” Tell them a therapist will help them talk about times when they feel sad, mad or bad. The therapist will help a child sort through their feelings to better handle the next situation that comes up.

In therapy, kids learn by doing. With younger kids, this means working with the whole family, drawing, playing, and talking. For older kids and teens, therapists share activities and ideas that focus on learning the skills they need. They talk through feelings and solve problems. Therapists give praise and support as kids learn. They help kids believe in themselves and find their strengths. Therapy builds helpful thinking patterns and healthy behavioral habits. A therapist might meet with the child and parent together or meet with the child alone. It depends on the child's age. A therapist might also meet with a parent to give tips and ideas for how to help their child at home.

At first, the therapist will meet with you and your child to talk. They will ask questions and listen. This helps them learn more about your child and about the problem. The therapist will tell you how they can help. After that, your child will go to more therapy visits. At these visits, your child might: Talk. Talking is a healthy way to express feelings. When kids put feelings into words instead of actions, they can act their best. When someone listens and knows how they feel, kids are more ready to learn. Do activities. Therapists use activities to teach about feelings and coping skills. They may have kids draw or play as a way to learn. They may teach mindfulness and calm breathing as a way to lower stress. Practice new skills. Therapists help kids practice what they learn. They might play games where kids need to wait their turn, use self-control, be patient, follow directions, listen, share, try again, or deal with losing. Solve problems. With older kids and teens, therapists ask how problems affect them at home, at school. They talk over how to solve these problems.

Kids and teens need therapy when they have problems they can't cope with alone. Or they need help when problems affect how well they do, feel, or act. If things don't get better on their own, kids may need therapy so things can improve. Sometimes, entire families need support while trying to communicate, learn, and create boundaries.

Kidspath Therapy offers a flexible and collaborative approach. If family therapy isn’t an option then parents/guardians are involved as much as possible. That means that they can join sessions, be active listeners or participants. Parens or loved ones will often have to work on tools and strategies at home with the child or youth. For teens, it is often a delicate relationship between the therapist and client. If a teenager is attending sessions by themselves and they are 12 years or older, or have the ability to consent then the therapist will need your child/youth's permission to speak with the therapist.

How long therapy lasts depends on the goals you and your child's therapist have. Most of the time, a therapist will want to meet with your child once a week for a few months up to a year or even longer.

Yes, unless it is believed that a child/youth is at immediate risk of harming themselves or others then sessions are confidential. This is known as a limit to confidentiality. The topic of confidentiality can sometimes be difficult for parents/guardians of teenagers to understand. Parents/guardians want to support their teen which is understandable. Rest assured, the therapist will share strategies or techniques that may be helpful outside of sessions.

Fees may be paid by e-transfer and are due at the end of each session. Additional billing will occur in 15 minute increments for services rendered outside of the therapy hour, and may include such things as phone calls, emails, letters, document review, etc.

First, call your insurance company to find out the level of coverage you have in terms of copays, limits of visits, and annual or lifetime maximums. Find out if you are covered with a Registered Social Worker. Kidspath Therapy offers limited sliding scale sessions to clients who are in financial need.