Feeling uncertain about how to talk to your children about their upcoming psychiatry appointment?
Whether it’s your child’s first psychiatry appointment ever, or you’re searching for a better fit for your family’s psychiatric needs, this post will provide you with some valuable tips and strategies for initiating this important conversation and easing your child’s transition into getting the mental healthcare that they need.
Read on to learn more about how you can support your child’s journey towards better emotional well-being.
Step #1: Normalize the conversation about mental healthcare with your child before their visit to our Portland pediatric psychiatry clinic
Mental healthcare is just like any other type of healthcare your child has experienced in the past. When you discuss getting help for a mental or behavioral health issue with your child, remember that it is important to emphasize that there is nothing embarrassing or shameful about seeking help. In fact, it is a sign of strength and intelligence to ask for help when you need it.
How you normalize the conversation about mental healthcare will depend on the child’s age.
For very young children, it can be enough to model asking for help and talking about emotions.
For school age children, you can draw connections between a psychiatrist and the school counselor at their school. Even if they don’t speak with that counselor, they know they exist and they know that other children work with them from time to time. Sometimes some kids at school need help with learning new skills in order to manage big feelings or behaviors. This appointment is a part of that kind of help.
For older children and teens, it is very important to emphasize that there is nothing wrong with them and that this appointment is not about “fixing” or “changing” them. Underscore that this appointment is simply about exploring the possibility of trying something new to help them learn new skills or manage feelings that can be very difficult to manage. Teens, in particular, appreciate the confidential nature of mental healthcare appointments. Emphasize that most things they share – except information that needs to be shared in order to address real or potential harm directed at themselves or others – will be kept private in mental healthcare appointments.
It’s best to have these conversations at a calm time with few distractions. Avoid bringing this topic up at a transition time, at bedtime, during an argument, or when stress levels in the family are at their highest. Always avoid framing mental healthcare appointments as “punishments” for “bad behavior.” Try to go into these conversations with a calm, centered state of mind yourself. Never attempt to discuss the next steps in your child’s mental healthcare plan with your child when you yourself are not emotionally regulated.
Step #2: Encourage questions and let kids express their thoughts and concerns about pediatric psychiatry
Strive to foster an open environment where children feel safe to share their thoughts and concerns about mental healthcare. Addressing their questions not only clarifies misconceptions but also empowers them, significantly reducing any anxiety they may have about the process. Involving kids in dialogue builds trust and enhances their overall therapeutic experience.
When talking specifically about medication with your child, highlight how it can facilitate the learning of new skills. Reassure them that their challenges are not due to personal shortcomings; rather, they stem from neurological factors beyond their control.
Most kids and teens appreciate seeing pictures of their provider and of the building they will be seeing their provider in. Consider showing them our clinic’s website and pulling up our clinic on Google Maps to give them a sense of what they’ll see on the day of their appointment. You can contact our office for photos of the provider they will be seeing so that they go into the appointment knowing what to expect. This lessens anticipatory anxiety and gives kids of all ages a greater sense of control over their environment.
Step #3: Use age-appropriate language when talking with kids about pediatric psychiatry appointments at our Portland clinic
You know your child best. The way you talk about psychiatric care will depend on their age, language comprehension skills, developmental situation, and communication preferences.
Adapt your explanations to match the child’s comprehension level in order to make sure they can grasp key concepts without confusion or fear. When talking about mental healthcare in general, and pediatric psychiatry in particular, choose words and examples that you know your kid will relate to and understand.
Some kids will need a very in-depth conversation (or two) about what they can expect in psychiatric care, while others will be fine to move on after a short one-sentence explanation. If you know of friends or relatives who also seek mental healthcare, and you have their permission to disclose that information, then share those insights with your child. If there are positive examples of mental healthcare in any of the media your child consumes – a TV show character who attends therapy, a book about feelings – then use those touchpoints as a reference point for your child to support their understanding.
Shanti Recovery and Wellness is accepting new patients in SE Portland for our Adolescent and Pediatric Psychiatrist Services in Oregon
When your child is struggling, the whole family struggles, too.
Whether you’re looking for psychiatric care for teens, kids, or school-age children, we can help.
Our dedicated adolescent and pediatric psychiatrist provides compassionate, evidence-based treatment for young people struggling with mental health issues like anxiety, depression, and ADHD.
Our team takes pride in spending time with your child and getting to know your family in order to design effective treatment plans that address the unique needs of each young person in our care.
Reach out today to schedule an appointment.