What to do when virtual therapy doesn't seem to be working for your child or teen

You and your child have options when Teletherapy doesn't seem to be working. 

1. Talk with your child

How does your child feel about the therapy and the therapist?

What are your child's goals for therapy?  Are they the same as yours?

Does your child go to therapy willingly or is it a battle to get him/her to engage? (Resistance may be part of the therapeutic process, sign that it's working)

2. Talk with your therapist.

Does the therapist agree or disagree that therapy isn't working?

Is there more happening than what you see?

Do the therapeutic goals need to be revisited?

3. Select a different therapist

Is this therapist a good fit for your child? for you? for your family?

4. Select a different type of therapy

Music, play, OT, PT

Is your child receiving the best services for their specific needs?

Is it time for a formal evaluation (or to get re-evaluated)

? 

5. Consider in-person therapy

6. Get support for yourself.  

Adding more team members. Takes a village. 

Services that can support your child along with outpatient therapy

• Therapeutic Childcare and Respite
• Parent Coaching
  
• Parent Counseling
• Post-Adoption Services
• Therapeutic educational consultants
• Therapeutic placement consultants
• Intensive In-Home Services
• Therapeutic Private Education
• Therapeutic Camps

7. Ask others for feedback on your child's progress (co-parent, coach, teacher, etc).  

Are you seeing the same things?

8. Take a break from therapy

9. Does your child need a higher level of care or additional supports?  Learn more about your options here:

• Urgent Care Behavioral Healthcare
• Intensive Outpatient Treatment
• Psychiatric Hospitalization
• Residential Treatment
• Therapeutic Boarding Schools