As an adult, the process of both finding the right therapist and going to a therapist can feel like a daunting task. For children, going to see a therapist can often take an extra amount of courage to muster up! For our next installment of our “Co-Parenting Convos,” we’ll explore some helpful ideas to consider if your child is already in therapy or if you are considering finding a therapist for your child in the future.

While it can be beneficial for both co-parents/co-caretakers to be involved in the attendance of therapy appointments with their child, it is very important to listen to your child’s therapist to understand what this specific involvement at appointments should look like. For example, some therapists may want both parents to sit in at certain points in the session or after the session to talk about things to be working on or homework to implement. Co-parents/co-caretakers should check with their child’s therapist to see what the therapist recommends for certain sessions because each session may be different. What you think might be “best” for your child in terms of parental attendance and involvement, may not actually be what the therapist recommends. Remember, this is your child’s therapy session, not yours and not your co-parent’s/co-caretakers’ session!

When it comes to any disagreements between you and your co-parent/co-caretaker, such as a difference on perhaps how to best implement after session recommendations from your child’s therapist or actual treatment plan, you and your co-parent/co-caretaker should first consider discussing any concerns together with your child’s therapist without your child present. Again, it is often best to defer to your child’s therapist as to what is appropriate for handling any concerns you or your co-parent/co-caretaker may have with your child’s treatment plan. Even before your child begins therapy, you and your co-parent/co-caretaker should also consider asking your child’s therapist on how he or she typically handles and addresses when co-parents/co-caretakers have any difference of opinion or concerns as they may arise. Your child’s therapist may even have a specific protocol for how to handle such matters, so it is best for you and your co-parent/co-caretaker to be proactive together and see what sort of protocols are already in place!

Further, if one co-parent/co-caretaker is primarily responsible for scheduling or taking your child to their therapy appointments, the other co-parent/co-caretaker should still be kept in the loop. This could be simply through sending a text or email to your co-parent/co-caretaker letting them know what your child’s therapist is recommending or what things to be on the lookout for to ensure every co-parent/co-caretaker is on the same page! And, finally, if you have not yet read our previous “Co-Parenting Convos” blog on “Best Practices with Healthcare Appointments”, click here. The tips on the prior blog will greatly assist when it comes to therapy appointments, too!

Stay up to date with our “Co-Parenting Convos” series by subscribing to our social media platforms, blog, and vlog. If you need help with your custody and visitation/parenting time matter, or to discuss any co-parenting/co-caretaker issues, our experienced family law attorneys at Morris Williams LLC are here to help! Contact us today to schedule a consultation by calling (757) 226-9425 or by emailing us at admin@morriswilliamslaw.com.