A child struggling with mental problems, trauma, sensory disorders and any other number of psychological problems can benefit from seeing a child psychologist. A child psychologist is trained to work with children in a more juvenile environment to help your child feel comfortable and at ease. If you're not sure where to start, finding a reputable child psychologist in your area is the first step to getting your child the help that he needs to function as an effective member of society.
Step 1
Contact your pediatrician and schedule an assessment of your child. Talk to your pediatrician about some of the concerns that you may have, and ask for a referral to a psychologist. Some insurances won't cover psychological evaluation without a referral from a pediatrician, so it's important to ask. Your pediatrician can also give you some ideas of reputable psychologists in your area to check out.
Step 2
Research your options considering financing. Child psychology can be an expensive treatment option, but government resources, insurance and community resources can help you foot the bill. Make sure you know how you'll pay for the sessions before you call to talk to some of the psychologists in your area.
Step 3
Phone at least three child psychologist's offices to compare the various experience, philosophies and session details to make an education decision. If your pediatrician has only given you the information for one or two psychologists, online databases, including those found at Psychology.com or the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry website, allow you to pinpoint your location and find child psychologists nearby.
Step 4
Ask the psychologist or the psychologist's assistant about some of the psychologist's credentials. A child psychologist should have a master's degree in psychology and be licensed by the state in which you live, according to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry. Ask where the psychologist went to school and how long she's been practicing with children. Ask about the facilities and what they offer to make a child feel more comfortable.
Step 5
Inquire about the psychologists therapies and practices, notes the American Mental Health Alliance. You'll need to know about the various techniques that a child psychologist uses to treat a child, so you can decide if it will be effective for your child's psychological issues. Once you've learned about all three child psychologists, you can choose the one that you feel the most comfortable with.
