What to Expect:
Your Child in Therapy
At Serenity Place, we believe that children thrive in therapy when they feel safe, heard, and supported. Here's what you can expect as your child begins their journey with us.
Privacy & Parental Involvement
Your child's sense of privacy is essential to their progress in therapy. When children know their sessions are a safe space, they're more likely to open up and do the meaningful work that leads to real change.
In most cases, parental involvement in your child's therapy sessions is limited. Your child's space to speak freely and honestly is what makes progress possible, and that must be protected.
Exceptions include evidence-based treatments such as Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) and Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT), which are specifically designed to include parents as active participants in the treatment process.
If your child is engaged in one of these modalities, their clinician will outline what your involvement will look like.
Outside of these approaches, most communication between clinicians and guardians requires your child's verbal agreement, unless a safety concern is present.
Your Child's Right to Confidentiality
Your child has the right to confidential sessions with their therapist. Their clinician will use their professional and therapeutic judgment to determine when and what information should be shared with guardians.
There are important exceptions. Clinicians are required by law to report:
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Abuse or neglect
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Suicidal or homicidal intent
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Any credible risk to your child's safety or the safety of others
Custody & Separation Agreements
Our clinicians care deeply about your child's wellbeing, and that means keeping therapy a neutral, protected space.
Serenity Place clinicians will not offer professional or personal opinions in custody matters. Children engage most fully in therapy when they don't feel that what they share could affect their relationship with either parent. We also can't speak to interactions we haven't personally witnessed.
If a separation or custody agreement is in place, we will need a copy on file before services begin. This helps us ensure we're working within the boundaries of your child's legal agreements and serving your family appropriately.
How Will I Know If My Child Is Making Progress?
This is one of the most common questions we hear from parents, and it's completely understandable. Changes in behavior, emotional regulation, relationships, and overall mood are often the most telling signs that therapy is working.
Look for things like:
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Fewer meltdowns or emotional outbursts
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Talking more openly about their feelings
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Sleeping better or complaining of physical symptoms less
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Handling transitions or disappointments with more ease
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Improved relationships with siblings, peers, or at school
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A general shift in mood or outlook at home
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A decrease in behaviors that led to therapy
These everyday moments are often the most honest reflection of what's happening in the therapy room. Your child's clinician can also share general progress updates with your child's agreement, without disclosing session content. And if there's something specific you need to know to support your child at home, their clinician will communicate that appropriately.
The details stay private. The progress doesn't have to.
Our Commitment to Your Child
Above all, your child's clinician is here for their safety, growth, and well-being. We're committed to building a trusting relationship with your child, and a collaborative, transparent one with you.
If you have questions about how to best support your child's therapeutic relationship, please don't hesitate to reach out to their provider. We're here to help.
