Guide to Finding an ADHD Therapist for Your Child
Finding a therapist can be really challenging. As someone who often refers families to therapists, I also have a hard time referring families when my therapy practice is full.
Before I jump into some tips on how you can find a therapist who specializes in ADHD, I want to share something important about therapists and insurance.
If you’re able to find a therapist through your insurance, that is great!
The tips that I’ll share in this article will still apply to you, but I do want to talk about why it may be difficult to find a therapist who accepts your insurance.
That’s because a lot of therapists don’t accept insurance, but they wish they could.
Unfortunately, insurance companies often dictate how many sessions clients can have, who clients can see, and if they determine that a client “doesn’t need therapy” therapists aren’t reimbursed for their services.
I completely understand that everyone may have different resources they’re able to utilize for therapy, so I’ll be sharing a variety of options.
Even if you are paying for a private pay therapist, if they provide you with a superbill, you may be able to receive reimbursement for some of the cost of services.
Where to Find a Therapist:
Your insurance panel or a referral from a pediatrician by calling the office and asking for a referral
Psychology Today is a website where you can search for therapists who accept your insurance
A Google Search (“child therapist in my area”)
Local universities with clinical psychology training programs: If you have a large state university in your area or another university, they may have a clinical psychology training program and an associated psychology clinic. This is often a great option for low-cost services!
Word of mouth: It helps if you know someone who has also had a good experience with a therapist and can vouch for them
What Type of Therapy:
It can be helpful to know some types of therapy and treatments that can be helpful for kids with ADHD.
The Effective Child Therapy website shares the most effective treatments for kids with ADHD and shares that behavioral therapy as well as organizational training are the most effective treatments to look for when supporting your child with ADHD.
When you are choosing a therapist or speaking with a therapist to determine if they’re a good fit for your child, you might ask them, “Do you provide evidence-based treatments for ADHD? What treatments do you provide?”
What Type of Therapist:
There are a lot of different types of therapists with different qualifications (or letters/degrees) behind their names.
Therapists may have different degrees, but in my opinion, it’s more important to look at their prior experience and training in ADHD, behavior therapy, and working with kids and teens.
You and your family may also have other personal and cultural values that are important to you in a therapist such as race, gender, etc.
You can ask about these when you reach out to a therapist. Many therapists will answer these questions about themselves to make sure they’re a good fit.
If a therapist chooses not to answer those questions, it’s not a red flag but one of their boundaries professionally.
What to Ask a Potential Therapist:
Here are some guiding questions that you can use to ask a potential therapist to see if they’re a good fit for you.
Many therapists will offer consultation calls to ensure they’re a good fit, or you can also ask these questions in the first session.
What types of therapy do you provide?
How much of your practice is focused on neurodivergent individuals?
What is your training in working with kids?
How long does therapy typically last?
Do you involve parents in therapy?
I hope this guide is helpful to get you started with finding a therapist that’s a good fit for you. If you have any other questions, please let me know!