Orlando Therapist Providing Questions to Ask a Teen Counselor before You Get Started

By Elizabeth Chambers, LMHC

Finding a counselor to help your teenager can be tough. You may search for “teen counselor in Orlando” 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. I am here to help you navigate this task! My name is Elizabeth Chambers and I am a therapist in Orlando who specializes in working with teens.

When looking for a therapist in Orlando 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. For example, at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando, all of our therapists use EMDR and other mindfulness approaches. 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, I 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, I do 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 the age of Covid, 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.

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. For information on using insurance, I encourage you to check out the blog 5 Quick Questions to Ask When Calling About Your Out-of-Network Benefits.

Although finding a teen counselor can be tough, I hope that these questions help you find the best fit for them. If you are interested in learning more about our therapists in Orlando or need additional help finding the right counselor for your teen, please feel free to give us a call at 407-579-3779. We are happy to assist you in your search for a counselor.

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About the Author

Elizabeth Chambers, LMHC is an Orlando therapist at Mindful Living Counseling Orlando. Elizabeth specializes in working with adults and teens struggling with anxiety, trauma, self-esteem, and depression. As an EMDR Therapist, Elizabeth utilizes EMDR and mindfulness practices to help clients move beyond anxiety and depression so they can feel confident and in control again.

As a teen therapist in Orlando, Elizabeth enjoys helping teens work through anxiety and self-esteem issues, as well as helping teens and their families rebuild their relationships.

Additional Resources

Orlando Therapist: Debunking 5 Myths About Therapy

Teen Counseling Orlando Resources

What to Know About Teenager Counseling

How to Validate Your Teen So They Feel More Understood

How to Talk to Your Teen: 6 Helpful Steps

Mindful Living Counseling Orlando is a trauma healing center. Our Orlando Therapy Services include anxiety therapy, trauma counseling, eating disorder recovery, teen counseling, and healing from toxic relationships. At Mindful Living Counseling Orlando, we use a down-to-earth approach infused with cutting-edge therapies that go beyond traditional talk therapy so clients can heal at the root level and experience lasting change. Feel free to access one of our Guided Meditations to help you feel settled and calm now.