If famlies don't have insurance or out of pocket payments are a concern, find out if there is a sliding fee scale. Although there are exceptions, it is essential to involve parents in some way when teens are participating in counseling. Parents are often relied upon to provide relevant history. A therapist may also want to discuss behavioral strategies and limit-setting with them, suggest other resources in the community, or discuss changes in the way the family communicates. Parents may be seen alone or with their teen, and siblings may be included as well.
Some therapists begin by seeing the teen first while others start with the parents.
Be sure the therapist is flexible and takes your own concerns into account. For example, if your teen is particularly resistant or suspicious about privacy, the therapist might start with your child first to build the teen's trust before parents are included in sessions. Beware of anyone who adheres to a rigid protocol without paying attention to your particular circumstances. There are many different professions that offer all types of mental health services for adolescents and this adds to parents' confusion. There is no one profession that has a monopoly on treating teenagers.