8 Questions to Ask a Teen Counselor | Teen Therapy Greensburg, PA

Finding a counselor to help your teenager can be tough. You may search for “teen counselor in Greensburg ” on Google and find many results - but how do you know which one is the right fit for your teen? What questions should you ask to choose a counselor?

It can be difficult to know how to find the right counselor for your teen, especially if this is the first time you are looking for a counselor.

When looking for a therapist in western PA to work with your teen, ask these 8 questions

1. How will you help my teen?

Helping can come in a variety of forms, especially with the many different counseling approaches that are out there. Asking the teen counselor what approach they use and how this helps can help you decide if they are going to be a good fit for your teen.

2. What are your specialties?

If you are looking for a particular specialty, this is important to know upfront. Some counselors may specialize in working with different types problems. If you are seeking someone who has experience with teenagers specifically, ask if working with teens is one of their specialties.

3. What is your availability?

This is important to ask to ensure that the teen counselor’s availability fits with your family’s schedule. If you need afternoon or evening sessions because of school, sports, clubs, etc., asking about days and times the counselor has available is important information. Some counselors offer later sessions to accommodate school schedules, whereas others may only have availability during the day. Asking about this can ensure that you are finding someone that fits your needs so that your child does not have to miss out on school or extracurriculars.

4. How often will you meet with my teen?

Different counselors have different preferences when it comes to the frequency of sessions. Some may be okay with every other week or once per month whereas others encourage weekly sessions. Our practice encourages weekly sessions, as we believe (and research supports) that weekly sessions can get your teen to their goals faster. At the beginning of therapy, meeting weekly is especially important for building the therapeutic relationship and providing more immediate relief for the distressing problems that have brought your teen into counseling.

5. Do you have experience working with the problems my teen is coming to counseling for?

Asking about the experience can help you determine if you feel the prospective counselor is qualified to help your teen. If the counselor has minimal experience with the specific problem that you are bringing your teen into counseling for, then it may be best to seek out a different counselor. It is also important to ask if they have experience working with teens. Some counselors may see primarily adults but still accept teens, but others may work primarily with teenagers. Knowing the level of experience both with teens and with the particular issue your teen is coming for can help you make an informed decision.

6. How often will parents be involved in therapy sessions?

This is another area where counselors may differ in their approach to teen counseling. Asking about how frequently you will be brought into a session can help you choose what fits best with your teen and your family. For example, a therapist may maintain a balance of family involvement and one-on-one time in session with your teen. Parents are brought in regularly to discuss any feedback they may have, however, therapists may emphasize the need for building a therapeutic relationship with your teen to help us do the hard work to accomplish their goals.

7. Do you offer virtual and in-person sessions?

In this post-Covid world, this has been a more common question. Some counselors may be 100% virtual still but others may offer both in-person and virtual sessions. Another reason to ask is flexibility for your sessions. If an emergency arises where you cannot come to the office physically, are virtual sessions an option? Knowing this information ahead of time can help to choose a teen counselor. At Caring Conversations Therapeutic Services, we offer in-person, virtual, or a hybrid approach.

8. What is your cost per session?

Asking about the cost is important for budgeting. Some practices may take insurance whereas others may charge a set fee per session. Additionally, not everyone would like to use their insurance benefits for mental health counseling, as there are both benefits and drawbacks to this. At Caring Conversations Therapeutic Services, we accept most major commercial insurance policies.

Finding a teen therapist is challenging, but hopefully these questions help you narrow down your search! If you're in Pennsylvania searching for a therapist for teens, give us a call for a free consultation! - 724.201.9815, or, fill out the form below: