Each course of individual therapy begins with a thorough assessment in the initial sessions in which I will assess the severity & nature of your symptoms and the impact on your quality of life.
For adolescents, parents are required to participate in the assessment. For college students and young adults, parents are welcome to participate. Assessments typically involve individual interviews with the patient, private interviews with the parents (if appropriate), and assessment questionnaires. At the end of an assessment, I always meet with an adolescent and parent(s) to discuss treatment planning.
I work with many college students who attend the University of Michigan whose families live out of town or out of state. In these cases, I frequently meet with parents, or speak with them on the phone, before their young adult child begins treatment with me. Our conversation helps us develop a connection and provides me with important background information to help in my work with their child. I keep these out-of-town parents up to date on their loved one’s progress per an agreement I make at the start of treatment with the patient and his or her parents. Each agreement specifies what can and cannot be communicated.
Whether my patient is an adolescent, or a young adult, I believe strongly in building and maintaining collaborative relationships with their parents and other significant family members. When I am working with an adolescent in individual therapy, parents are often encouraged to stay involved. This may involve attending the last 10-15 minutes of individual sessions or family sessions may be held on occasion as needed.
