LUNA is designed to help kids and caregivers learn how to better manage anxiety. Some families may only need this program, and others might use it as just one part of their plan to overcome anxiety. On the next few pages, you will read about some resources that you might find useful if you decide to seek further treatment with a mental health professional.
Therapy
The first step in getting connected to a licensed mental health professional is finding the right fit. You will want to make sure that your child feels comfortable with your new therapist, and that the therapist is using effective treatment for your child's concerns.
There are many different types of therapies for different problem areas. Some therapies have been found to be more successful than others. The Society of Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology has created a website called Effective Child Therapy that contains information on evidence-based therapies, or therapies that have been shown to work in multiple scientific studies, for specific concerns, symptoms, and clinical disorders. This website is an excellent resource for caregivers to learn about effective therapy interventions for children. You can access this site at: https://effectivechildtherapy.org/
Finding a Therapist
Once you have some idea as to what therapies you may be interested in trying out, it is time to find a therapist near you. Psychology Today has an extensive list of licensed therapists that you can use to find a therapist that is nearest you. Access Psychology Today's directory.
Here are other national/international organizations' websites where you can find a therapist near you:
- International OCD Foundation (IOCDF)
- Anxiety & Depression Association of America (ADAA)
- Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies (ABCT)
Teletherapy: Many therapists have shifted from in-person therapy sessions to online therapy and video counseling. In many instances, teletherapy has been supported by research studies to be as effective as in-person therapy sessions. Teletherapy also makes meeting with a therapist easier! If you believe that teletherapy would be a better fit for you and your child, consider asking therapists whether they can provide teletherapy.
Finding a Psychiatrist
If you are interested in learning about medication management for anxiety, we recommend you seek out a psychiatrist. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health disorders like anxiety. Look for Board Certified Child and Adolescent Psychiatrists – they have gone through years of training to be experts in working with children and families. If you do not have a psychiatrist and you are interested in learning about medication for anxiety, we recommend you check out this website.
Contacting a Therapist
When you first get connected with a therapist, you are more than welcome to ask them questions to get to know them better and understand their particular style of therapy. Remember, it is about getting the right fit, and asking some questions up front can help you determine if a therapist is a good fit for you and your child.
Below are some questions that may be helpful for you to ask a new therapist (Print a PDF version to take with you):
- What is your professional background?
- How many years have you been working with children and adolescents?
- My child has been feeling ____ and is having difficulties with ____. What experience do you have helping children with these types of concerns?
- What are your areas of expertise? Do you have experience working with children and adolescents with anxiety and ___?
- (Mention anything specific to your child, e.g., autism)
- What kinds of treatments do you use? Have they been proven to be effective? Are they evidence-based?
- How much will an initial therapy session cost?
- How much do individual therapy sessions cost?
- What types of insurance do you accept?
Meeting with a Therapist
When you meet with a therapist for the first time, it can be helpful to provide them with some background information as to what your child is struggling with and what type of therapies you have already tried. Providing the therapist with this information will be helpful in streamlining the initial session and make it possible for you and your child to easily build upon the skills you already have. Answering the questions below will help you prepare background information to share with a therapist.
- What was your child afraid of or what did they feel anxious about at the beginning of LUNA?
- What therapies/treatments have you tried?
- What therapies/treatments have worked for the anxiety listed above in #1?
- What has worked well for your child?
- What are some things that are still difficult for your child?
- What other types of treatment or support is your child currently receiving?
You can write down the answers to these questions on this worksheet: Brainstorming Before Meeting with a Therapist.
After you have taken some time to reflect on these questions and do some brainstorming, you can use this worksheet to summarize your progress and show it to your therapist (PDF version):
Name of child:
Gender:
Date of birth:
Previous clinical diagnoses:
Summary of progress and current difficulties
Anxiety problems:
Previous therapies:
During the program, we worked on...
Exposures (mission plans):
Coping skills that worked well for my child:
Things that were difficult for my child:
My child's current anxiety:
Situations that make my child anxious:
Signs that my child is anxious
Examples of Behaviors:
Examples of Physical reactions:
Examples of Thoughts:
Here is an example of Neil’s summary sheet.
Other Helpful Resources
School Counselors:
There is often a school counselor on campus whose job is to help students struggling with a variety of concerns. School counselors are licensed and have received specialized training in working with children and adolescents. If your school has a counselor, it may be helpful to let them know that your child is struggling with anxiety. Your child may want to meet with the school counselor regularly or as needed and when they are especially anxious about something.
Anxiety in the Classroom:
The International OCD Foundation has developed a great website that can help you learn more about the impact of anxiety in the school setting and how to help your child get the support they may need to succeed. Learn more.