Our society has made good headway in changing the stigma associated with mental health issues. No longer contained to the whispers of dark hospital corridors, the topic of mental health has arrived in some of the most public of forums, from newspaper headlines to Oprah’s couch. Still, when a parent seeks mental health care for a child, it remains a difficult, often enigmatic, journey. Confused and overwhelmed, parents commonly struggle in their quest to find the “right” or “best” treatment.

Dr. Cynthia Langtiw, parenting expert and assistant professor at The Chicago School of Professional Psychology (www.thechicagoschool.edu), suggests that parents take a step back and approach the subject systematically. By setting aside anxiety and focusing on the task at hand, parents can find an abundance of resources in their search for quality childhood or adolescent mental health care.

Wellness Care

Be it a healthy mind or body, wellness care is a must. Parents should remember to get regular annual physicals for their children. Build a good relationship with your pediatrician and he or she can better assist in identifying mental health symptoms and, when necessary, introduce a suitable clinician.

Parents should also stay abreast of a child’s academic performance as problems often appear at school. If a child’s grades are falling or there is a shift in behavior specifically around school, request a school assessment to see if there any academic issues that might mediate their emotional wellbeing. Langtiw notes that public schools are required to provide such assessments.

Focus on the symptoms

If concerned about your child’s mental health, take note of the symptoms. Do not get bogged down on diagnoses or labels because children can be diagnosed five different ways by five different specialists. Note the symptoms and find a clinician that you and your child can trust. Parents should also be cognizant that trauma, defined as anything that overwhelms one’s ability to cope, can play a role in the development of a mental issue. Something innocuous to a parent, such as a move to a new city, can be a traumatic event for a child.

Find a licensed professional
Licensed professionals who practice psychotherapy include the following:

Clinical Psychologists (www.apa.org or www.illinoispsychology.org)

Clinical Social Workers (www.socialworkers.org/nasw)

Clinical Professional Counselors (www.counseling.org)

Marriage and Family Therapists (www.aamft.org)

Psychiatrists (www.aacap.org)

In addition to speaking to your pediatrician, friends and family for recommendations, you can click on the links above to find a specialist in your area. Confirm a clinician is licensed by looking up their license number at the Illinois Division of Professional Regulation (www.idfpr.com/dpr/licenselookup).

Do Your Homework

Do your homework before sending a child to meet with a clinician. Once you have the names of several mental health professionals, call and interview them over the phone to determine who is the best match for you and your family. According to the National Child Traumatic Stress Network (www.nctsnet.org), there are several questions that should be asked, including:

Are you licensed? How long have you been practicing?

What areas do you specialize in?

Do you have experience treating a child with these symptoms?

What kind of treatment do you usually use with children and/or adolescents, and why do you believe that this would be effective for my child's situation?

How long would you expect my child's treatment to last?

What are your fees? Will you accept my insurance or HMO coverage? Will you directly bill my insurance company? Do you have a sliding fee scale or will you set up a payment plan?

Establish a rapport with clinician

Once you have chosen a clinician, it is important to feel comfortable with them since your child's treatment involves working together as a team. Clinicians rely heavily on parents for input on a child’s symptoms. In addition to speaking to you directly, a good clinician should also look for insight from people who know your child well, like teachers or relatives, before a diagnosis or medication is suggested. Ask for an explanation of all diagnosis and treatment planning. It should make sense to both you and your child. Ask as many questions as needed! The language of psychology will be new to you, so request clarification on anything you do not understand.

Know before you medicate

If it is determined that medication is needed for treatment, understand what the medication is for and how long it will be used. What is the metric to measure success? Find out how well the medication has worked in other patients and learn about the side effects. Talk to the clinician about what studies have been done on the drug. Parents should be aware that medication cannot work alone. It should be just one element of a psychotherapy treatment plan.

Get support for yourself

Parents can feel isolated when dealing with a child’s mental health issues. Some find great value in joining a support group where they can discuss questions and concerns with other parents experiencing similar issues. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) has an office in all fifty states. Find a local NAMI office (www.nami.org) and learn about support groups available in your area.

Kim Martiny is a freelance writer based in Chicago. She can be reached at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).