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Once the decision to seek treatment is made, the next step is to find the professional that you believe is best suited to the needs of your child and family. A good first step is to understand the different types of clinicians available and what they specialize in, including the following:

• A psychiatrist is a medical doctor (M.D.) with special education and training in treating psychiatric disorders, who can provide therapy in addition to prescribing medication.
• A psychologist must complete a doctoral degree in psychology. He/she can evaluate, diagnose and treat emotional and mental disorders as well as provide testing, psychological evaluation and psychotherapy.
• A licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) has completed a master's degree in social work and may provide psychotherapy, rehabilitation, and case management services in hospitals, clinics and in private practice.
• A marriage, family and child counselor (MFCC) has completed a master's degree and may provide psychotherapy and work in a variety of settings with individuals, couples, families and children.
• Other mental health professionals you may encounter include psychiatric nurses, social workers, substance abuse counselors, psychiatric technicians, case managers and specialized therapists.

Recommendations can be sought in several ways. Ask your pediatrician, family physician, school counselor, or clergy member for a referral to a mental health professional. You can also check with services offered at a local clinic, hospital or medical school.

Before meeting with a possible clinician, it's helpful to think about some basic questions about what you and your child might want and need.

• What are the concerns for which you want help?
• Is the focus to be on the family or the individual child?
• Do you think that you and your child would work better with a male or female clinician?
• How will the treatment address the current problem?
• What does my insurance cover? Therapy can be a big financial commitment but the rewards to your child and family can be priceless.

Scheduling one or several initial meetings will enable you to decide whether you and your child will feel comfortable and trust the clinician. At this time, some important information should be determined, including:

• The professional's experience and expertise in the specific area you are seeking treatment
• The clinician's practice of working with other professionals in the child's life
• Type and format of treatment, such as frequency of sessions and payment arrangements
• Parents' responsibilities and involvement

After these meetings you should be able to decide whether you and your child think the clinician is a good fit with your family and whether a sense of trust and understanding can be established.

The therapist's job is to act as a guide, instructor, mentor and confidante. The job of the child and parents is to try and put what they learn into practice. If there is any doubt that a productive alliance can be built, another consultation should be sought.