How to Find a Therapist For Your Child in Royal Oak, Michigan

As a parent, you probably have a lot of questions about how to best help your child. Are they learning the right social and emotional skills to be successful in the world? When your child is struggling – to make friends, take care of themselves, do well in school, or manage their feelings, you likely want to find a professional who can help. That person should be a team player – who can help understand your child’s difficulties, help you come up with a game plan and work with your family to make things better.

Luckily, if you live in Royal Oak, you have plenty of therapists to choose from. You have a thriving group of child therapists right next door in Ferndale!

Your child must have a trusting and mutually respectful relationship with their therapist in order for therapy to work, so picking the right therapist is important. Here are some signs your child and their therapist are working well together.

These questions can help you decide which therapist may be right for your child:

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Does your child feel like they can easily talk to their therapist?

Connection can take time, especially if your child is more reserved. The therapist needs to be able to find ways of talking with your child- for example, can the therapist elicit something through a game or activity? The therapist (and family) should be working hard to get to know who the child is and how they communicate. Kids are often not very verbal about their difficulties, so therapists need to be patient but also encouraging, open minded, and inviting the child to show who they are. Kids often communicate through their actions, but can learn to pay attention to how they feel and behave and use those skills to better manage their challenges. Over time, your child can learn to be more verbally expressive and learn better ways of handling adversity and enjoying their life.

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Does the therapist offer new perspectives and insights for your child?

Therapy for both adults and kids is about learning new skills to tackle life’s challenges, big and small. The therapist and your child should be working on understanding your child’s challenges, motivations, and goals. Can your child gradually take insights from therapy and apply them to their life? Can they start to tackle problems one at a time and begin to deal with setbacks more maturely? The therapist doesn’t do the work for them, but they should be a good companion for the journey.

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How closely is your child’s therapist working with your whole family?

When a child or teen is in therapy, sessions naturally focus on helping the child grow, but the whole family is also important. Is your therapist meeting with you and offering tips for how you can help your child between sessions? ? The therapist and parent(s) are a team, working closely and communicating often to help your child grow and develop new skills.

It can be difficult to gauge whether therapy is helping, because it is a gradual process. Sometimes, it can feel like pulling teeth to get details about your child’s school day, let alone their therapy sessions! But it’s important to pay attention to clues like enthusiasm about their sessions, their willingness to share, and marked improvements in their behavior and communication to see how things are going. Your child should be learning how to communicate better, how to take better care of themselves, and how to overcome challenges.

And remember – it takes time! That’s why it’s crucial that you and your child see therapy as a commitment. There might be times where life gets in the way of therapy – or your kid complains from time to time. But it’s important that once you find the right therapist to stick to therapy consistently so it can be effective.

Sometimes you may decide to switch therapists. That’s why it is crucial to know what to look for in a child therapist, and make sure therapy is helping along the way. Right now, Start My Wellness has several therapists who specialize in working with kids and/or teens currently. Since SMW is located in Royal Oak by 696 and I-75, it’s convenient to visit us from most of Metro Detroit. Schedule your appointment to start your child’s wellness journey today!

Emily Lunn

2022-06-17

Start My Wellness definitely receives 5 stars. Their staff are incredibly helpful and want you to get the care you need. I did start by seeing Scott, but found him to not be the best fit for me. This can be a potentially uncomfortable situation for someone who already has anxiety on the best of days. Between talking with Laila who I see for medication and WISH I could have her as my actual therapist, and Mike Misiak at the main office, we are all in alignment on what my treatment plan is going forward. I am so impressed with Start My Wellness, which I found through the program my work started, I am going to be doing a full company presentation to talk about my experience and how SMW really does a great job of taking the stigma out of therapy! Thank you to everyone!

Sydney Maus

2022-06-13

I have enjoyed every interaction with Start My Wellness. They are helpful no matter your situation.

Walter Kacher

2022-06-12

The best therapy I could have ever imagined. They finally diagnosed me and gave me the help I always needed. I am forever grateful.

Christopher Smith

2022-06-11

I absolutely love the the people here. Was able to get started right away after getting all the paperwork done. Recommend this place to anyone and everyone

jamie cooley

2022-06-02

I have not been here but I go to the previous employer of Abigail (Platt) Schellhammer… I’m very saddened she is gone. I have seen her last 6 years. She is so professional and personable. I prayed she stayed in family practice in my area. I may just drive to Ferndale🥰Wishing her happiness. Also letting SMW know how lucky they are to have her. I’ve went to her replacement this week and let’s just say she CANNOT be replaced. I left crying after realizing I lost the BEST practitioner I could ask for. UGH!!!! Best of luck to her though she deserve the world.

Dave Shaw

2022-05-02

Been a patient by of Abigail (platt)Schellhammer in Lansing.. Going to miss her very much..my first appointment without her and the new Dr I was scheduled with didn’t show up for my 8:20 appt, I left at 9:30.. made new appt for 11:30 with PA and it’s now 12:20 and still waiting😢I told the MA “I never waited for Abigail”. … which is true, the place went to h*** in a hand basket when she left…SMW sooooo lucky to have Ms. Schellhammer...her old patient -Jamie Cooley😢

Make an Appointment

To get started with Start My Wellness, schedule an appointment online or call 248-514-4955. During the scheduling process, we will ask questions to match you with the therapist who will best meet your needs including service type, emotional symptoms and availability.

Call (248) 514-4955

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Schedule Appointment Online

Therapy Services in Royal Oak, MI

At Start My Wellness, we connect patients in Royal Oak, MI with high-quality therapists and counselors devoted to helping people redesign their mindsets so they can live better lives.