Tip Sheet
How to seek mental health treatment for a child or adolescent.
Insurance
- Contact your insurance company for specific recommendations for mental health provider coverage.
- Call the Mental Health providers recommended through your insurance company.
No Insurance
For recommendations of mental health agencies that provide reduced fee or sliding scale fee assistance call Lutheran Social Services at 507-720-0331, your local County, or search Health Access Minnesota.
Recommendations
- Reach out to your local school nurse or school counselor/psychologist for guidance. Some schools may offer group or individual counseling sessions.
- Schedule an appointment with your local primary care provider for medical assessment and recommendation. Many local primary care clinics have integrated behavioral health providers to assist with triage of mental health issues.
- Contact the Horizon Homes Mobile Team at 877-399-3040 for a crisis assessment.
Warning Signs
- Signs to look for | For Parents and Caregivers when to seek services for your child or adolescent SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration)
- Understanding the levels of mental health care available - description of different types of services for children and adolescents ACMH (Association for Children's Mental Health)
Urgent
- Symptoms are present and impacting functioning (for example, missing school, isolating, not sleeping, etc.)
- Alcohol or substance use or abuse.
If symptoms are urgent, it is recommended to seek services within two weeks for assessment and treatment planning.
Emergency
- Active self-harm and damage to skin or bodily harm
- Thoughts about suicide or frequent thoughts of death
- Psychosis or losing touch with reality.
In an emergency, it is recommended that you take the child immediately to the closest emergency room.
What to Expect
- The first therapy session is called an Intake Session. The therapist’s goal is to collect information about 1) your child's needs, 2) your/your child's goals for therapy, and 3) history about your child's development.
- The first session with the therapist may be with the child and caregiver or the caregiver only.
- As a parent or guardian you will be expected to play an active role in the child’s treatment.
- One of the goals of the intake session is to collect this information so the therapist can do a Diagnostic Assessment. The mental health therapist considers your child's symptoms, to come up with a diagnosis. A diagnosis describes the symptoms the child may be experiencing and gives recommendations for treatment.
- When the therapist has made a diagnosis, they will work with you and your child to create the treatment plan that aims to achieve the goals for therapy.
- Your child will meet regularly with their therapist as determined by the plan of care.
- If you, as the caregiver, have questions, ask your therapist to answer or explain things. The therapist is there to help and appreciates caregivers who are engaged in their children’s services. It is also important to respect the boundaries of the child and the therapist as they create a safe place for your child to share and work on difficult things.
- If you or the child feel the therapist is not a good fit, you can always try a different therapist. It can take multiple efforts to find someone and something that works for each unique family.
- If this happens your current provider can help you find a better match because they are familiar with the child’s needs and also with resources in the area to assure a better fit.
- You may also choose to go back to your referral source.
- We recommend that you add the child's name to multiple wait lists.
- By joining multiple waitlists, you increase the chances of finding a care provider who is the right fit and are able to explore different approaches and specialties.
- It is also important to remember that waiting for an appointment is common, and it is crucial to engage in self-care for yourself along with continuing to offer support and resources to the child as you wait for an available appointment.
- If you become concerned about an increase in symptoms or acuity while waiting, you may visit a local health care provider or use the many crisis resources available to you on this website, or within your local community.
