Questions to Ask About Treatment

Questions to Ask Your Mental Health Professional About Treatment Options, Medications, Etc..

As a parent you have a right and a responsibility to ask about the treatments and supports being recommended for your child. Before your child begins any type of treatment you may want to ask some of these questions listed below, as well as, any others you may have:

• What are the treatment options for my child?
• What is the goal of this type of treatment?
• What new skills might my child learn through this treatment process?
• What things can I expect this treatment to do? Or what might I see in my child as a result of participating in this type of treatment?
• How will I be involved with my child’s treatment?
• Does evidence support the success of this type of treatment for children?
• How will we know if the treatment is working?
• How long might it take before we see an improvement?
• What should I do if the problems get worse or I do not see any improvement?
• Are there other options available?
• How often will we meet to evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment plan?
• How do I call a meeting if I have concerns before the official treatment plan “review” date?

Questions you may want to ask regarding prescribed/suggested medications:

• If the medication is effective, how might it help my child?
• How long does it take to work?
• How long will my child have to take this medication before it affects his or her mood, thoughts, or behavior?
• What side effects might my child experience from taking this medication?
• Has this medication proven to be safe and effective for children?
• Does my child have to have any blood work or other testing while taking this medication?
• Do you have any printed information about this medication that you can share with me?
• What happens if we miss a dose?
• How long do you feel my child will need to be on this medication?
• What side effects should I contact you about right away and what side effects can I report to you at our next appointment?
• Is there a generic name for this medication?
• What is the cost of the medication and are there lower cost options/generics?

Additional Questions you may want to ask your Mental Health Provider:

• What should I do if need to reach you after hours or in an emergency?
• What things can I do at home to support my child and help them better cope with their mental health challenges?
• What are some resources I can look into to help me better understand my child’s diagnosis or needs?
• What can I do to help myself cope in times of crisis or when I need more support?
• Does my child need a Crisis Plan? (If your child is at risk of experiencing a crisis, you may want to ask your provider to help you to create a crisis plan.

A crisis plan is a written plan of what to do if your child is in crisis. It will contain the specific steps to take & contact information of the people to contact during a crisis.