Where to Start? Get Better Clarity on Whether Therapy Is Right for Your Child
A Parent Consultation helps families better understand their options and next steps. It provides an opportunity to speak openly with a therapist, ask questions, share concerns, and receive guidance before their child starts therapy. Parents can discuss concerns involving one child, multiple family members, parenting challenges, or overall family dynamics. This one-time meeting helps families understand their options and possible next steps.
What kind of Therapy is best for my Child?
Many parents have questions before starting child therapy.
What therapy will actually look like?
What type of therapy does my child need?
How do I explain therapy to my child?
Do we just need individual counseling or family therapy?
Will this therapist mesh well with my child?
Some parents simply prefer to meet the therapist first before introducing their child to the therapy process.
This is why we created our Parent Consultation service.
This one-time meeting gives you the opportunity to meet privately with a therapist before beginning therapy services for your child or family. It is a space to ask questions, share concerns, explain the bigger picture of what is happening at home, and receive professional guidance about possible next steps.
During the consultation, you may discuss:
Emotional or behavioral concerns involving one or more children
School, social, or family stressors
Parenting challenges or family conflict
Concerns involving siblings with different needs
Whether therapy is appropriate and for whom
Questions about therapist fit or treatment approaches
Previous therapy experiences or diagnoses
Broader family dynamics and patterns
Parent involvement in therapy
The therapist may then provide recommendations regarding:
Whether therapy is recommended at this time
Which family member(s) may benefit most from support
What type of therapy may be most appropriate
Individual therapy, family therapy, parenting support, testing, or outside resources
Sibling dynamics or broader family system concerns
Many parents find this service helpful because it allows them to slow down, organize their thoughts, and talk through concerns before involving their child in the therapy process. It can also help families feel more confident that they are starting therapy thoughtfully and in the right direction.
Insurance & Billing Information
Parent Consultations are considered a self-pay service and are not billable to insurance.
Insurance companies require the identified client to be evaluated directly before services can be billed through insurance. Because this consultation involves meeting with the parent(s) only, without the child present, a diagnosis and treatment plan cannot ethically or appropriately be established during this meeting.
If your family decides to move forward with therapy afterward, and the therapist is in-network with your insurance plan, the next appointment would typically be scheduled as an official intake evaluation with the child present. At that point, services may become eligible for insurance billing, depending on coverage and clinical appropriateness.
Once a child has been evaluated and a treatment plan has been established, further parent sessions that are part of the child’s treatment may often be covered by insurance.
If you are feeling unsure about where to begin, you do not have to figure it out on your own. A Parent Consultation can help you better understand your child’s needs, explore possible next steps, and feel more confident about moving forward with support for your family. Parent Consultations can be in-person at our office at 5540 Falmouth St #100, Richmond VA, or it can be virtual through our online counseling platform, as long as you are located in Virginia.
To schedule a Parent Consultation, click below to request an appointment.