Finding A Counselor or Therapist for Your Child

It’s important to discuss your concerns with your child's pediatrician or family doctor, who can screen for issues and offer treatment or a referral to a behavioral health professional. You can also talk to your child's school for additional insight and support.

In addition to any resources recommended by your doctor or school, you may want to explore other options:

• Make an appointment or walk-in visit at a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC). They provide a wide range of mental health and substance use services to anyone, regardless of age, diagnosis, insurance, or ability to pay. Find a clinic near you.
• If the child is under 18, you may also call Kid’s Link, a behavioral health triage services and referral network, at 1-855-543-5465.
• A comprehensive list of counselors and therapists can be found on online referral sites:
   
  • Search the Psychology Today listings
  • Search Zencare, a web-based referral service
  • RI licensed substance use treatment providers

If you have health insurance, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card to find in-network providers. Or go to its website or the member handbook to find providers in its network.

If you have Medicaid, call the member services number on the back of your insurance card to get help finding in-network providers. You can also look at provider directories on the HealthSource RI website.

• Psychiatrists: These are doctors who diagnose mental health and substance use issues. They can prescribe and monitor medications and also provide therapy.
• Psychiatric Mental Health Nurse Practitioners: They assess, diagnose, and provide therapy for mental health or substance use issues. They can also prescribe and monitor medications.
• Pediatricians: Your pediatrician may be able to treat mild to moderate mental health conditions and they can access PediPRN for support as needed. PediPRN.org or 401-432-1KID (401-432-1543)
• Clinical Psychologists: Licensed professionals who diagnose and treat mental health issues through counseling and therapy. They do not prescribe medication.
• School Counselors, Psychologists, and Social Workers: These professionals have Ph.D. or Master’s level training and help students with academic, social, and emotional issues within the school environment.
• Occupational Therapists: Licensed professionals who help children develop skills for daily living and improve their sensory processing abilities.
• Mental Health Counselors and Marriage and Family Therapists: Licensed counselors who use therapy techniques to set goals, create treatment plans, and provide non-medical therapy.
• Clinical Social Workers: Licensed clinicians who diagnose, assess, and treat mental health conditions, including cognitive, emotional, and behavioral issues.
• Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselors (LCDPs): These counselors specialize in helping people recover from substance use problems. They provide counseling, develop treatment plans, and offer emotional and social support.
• Peer Specialists and Recovery Coaches: These are people who have personal experience with mental health or substance use issues and are in recovery. They offer emotional and social support, and teach about the healthcare system. They receive training and certification.
• Choosing the right type of therapist depends on your child or teen’s specific needs. It’s a good idea to talk to your child’s pediatrician, family doctor, or a mental health professional to find the best approach.

As you seek information and help you will encounter a lot of terms with which you are not familiar. These descriptions will help you better understand some of the various types of therapy and therapists available to address the unique needs of young people.

1. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
   • Focus: Helps children recognize and change negative thought patterns and behaviors.
   • Used for: Anxiety, depression, behavioral issues, and trauma.
2. Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
   • Focus: Combines CBT with mindfulness techniques to help manage emotions and improve relationships.
   • Used for: Self-harm, suicidal thoughts, mood disorders, and severe behavioral problems.
3. Play Therapy
   • Focus: Uses play to help children express emotions and work through psychological issues.
   • Used for: Trauma, anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems in younger children.
4. Family Therapy
   • Focus: Works on improving communication and relationships within the family.
   • Used for: Behavioral issues, family conflicts, and emotional disorders.
5. Behavioral Therapy
   • Focus: Changes harmful behaviors through reward-based strategies.
   • Used for: ADHD, conduct disorders, and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD).
6. Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
   • Focus: Specifically designed to help children recover from trauma.
   • Used for: PTSD, sexual abuse, and other trauma-related issues.
7. Art Therapy
   • Focus: Uses creative activities like drawing, painting, and sculpture to help children express and process emotions.
   • Used for: Trauma, anxiety, and emotional issues.
8. Music Therapy and Dance/Movement Therapy
   • Focus: Uses music or movement to help with emotional, cognitive, and social needs.
   • Used for: Emotional and developmental challenges.
9. Occupational Therapy (OT)
   • Focus: Helps children develop the skills needed for everyday activities and improves sensory processing.
   • Used for: Sensory processing disorders, autism, and developmental delays.
10. Social Skills Training
    • Focus: Teaches children appropriate social behaviors and communication skills.
    • Used for: Autism spectrum disorders, social anxiety, and peer relationship issues.