There are two questions here. How long should you wait to get in to see a therapist, and how long should you wait before you decide if this therapist is the right one? If your child is having significant difficulty, waiting more than two weeks for your first appointment is not reasonable. When your child is hurting, two weeks can feel like forever. It is important to note that some insurance companies may offer “crisis appointments.” However, the next available provider may not be located in an area that is convenient for you. Consider this carefully before agreeing to a stopgap measure that may not be practical in the end. If you decide your child seems to have a problem, but it is not damaging to his daily life yet, waiting two to three weeks for the first appointment is reasonable. After that first session, though, it is important to have your child seen weekly, at least until the flow of therapy is established. Not only has it been shown that weekly therapy helps establish rapport, it is also necessary so your child can get some quick symptom relief.

If a therapist tells you she is a month out on her calendar, you need to question whether this is the right person for your child. When a therapist is that heavily booked out of the gate, the time she can fit you in will likely be limited, and as noted earlier, taking children out of school brings with it a host of other issues.

Is This Therapist the Right One?

In regard to how long before you know whether you've found the right person to work with your child and family, give the therapist three to four sessions. By then you will know if your child has connected and can form a trusting, open relationship with this person. The therapist will have also had the time to decide on goals and should have discussed a plan with you. By all means, ask any questions and raise any concerns you might have; a therapist's ability and willingness to address these issues can say a lot about her as a professional.