How would you choose a child psychologist for therapy?

If you think that you’ve done the shoparound, that’s the best you can do. Or shoparound some more and hope that you hear more repetitions of the same name. At some point you have to do a trial buy.

I’m careful not to ask ” what do you think of soandso” because the only professional answer is “oh, yes, I’ve heard good things.” The question has to be ” who would be first on your list, if you were to take your own child or someone near/dear” You don’t want a laundry list of also-goods, you want the name of the best.

As to the 11 year old picking-I’d say NO. If they don’t trust or ‘click’ then you have to try someone else. But letting the 11 year old making the initial pick, not for me. I don’t think its an 11 year old decision. You reassure your child you will try to find the best person. I would not hesitate to say that you will check with your child after x visits to see if its the right person for he/she.

Good luck

I would say *after* checking out professional qulaifications and getting word of mouth references, then go with your gut feeling, and listen to the child’s gut feelings. My own experience with therapists having been bizarre, I can tell you only that going against those deep-seated feelings is not going to form a good professional relationship with the necessary mutual respect.

I would make sure they are board certified in their field, and check with the appropriate board of registration for lic. revocations, malpractice, etc. Check them out on google, etc. Do not put your child into the equation; 11yo is not a teen or youg adult able to make these decisions.