Common Questions
Parents and caregivers are part of the initial assessment (first meeting) so that everyone has a chance to meet and share important information. Caregivers will not be in the room for therapy after that first appointment. Your therapist will work with you to figure out when talking with your caregivers makes sense. Therapy works best when the caregiver(s) can be included to help you reach your goals at home.
Your therapist will review all confidentiality limits at your first session so everyone is on the same page. If you are in danger, we will talk with your caregivers to help make sure you are safe. Otherwise, you and your caregivers will work together to determine what is shared and what stays between you and your therapist.
Being a teenager is different from being a kid or an adult. Suddenly, things can be much more challenging, complicated, and emotional. Friendships and relationships all change. This is also the first time you’re learning about what makes you, you.
So therapy focuses on all those big challenges of helping you learn about yourself and your relationships. Therapy as a teenager should hopefully be more fun too. You’ll get to talk about all the things you like, why you like them, share your art and music, and get to do more creative games and activities.
The school will not know anything about therapy unless you want them to. If the school requires you to attend therapy, then Singh Psychology will provide information about if you do/do not attend therapy. But only with your permission. There may be times you want the school to know you’re in therapy because it could help to get more support from the school. Singh Psychology will also provide that information, but only if you give us permission. Otherwise, everything stays confidential.
First, you interview your therapist. Carefully decide if they’re as annoying as everyone else or maybe not that awful. Then, you assure them you don’t need therapy (obviously…we’re both here against our will…). Next, trick your therapist into helping you get what YOU want. Now you got your therapist working for you. Huge win. What a coup. Step seven - profit…or…achieve your goals.
You still might not be sure how therapy can help. Especially with a “therapist” who uses “air quotes” so “unnecessarily.” You might not trust someone who your family wants to “fix” you. I get it. I also don’t let The Algorithm hear me talk. But therapy is actually your space. You’re the boss. You get to use it however you please. You get to fire your therapist if you choose. You and your family don’t even have to have the same goals! Your therapist is there to help you get what you want.
You can talk about being anxious at school. A recent break-up. Trouble with friends. Feeling down. How hard math is. How much your family frustrates you. How much your therapist annoys you. Whatever is important to you is important. And you’ll notice that once you start reaching your goal, everything will start clicking into place. That’s because all our challenges are related. It’s all one challenge under the water that we can’t see. It just looks like a lot of different challenges. Like a bunch of tentacles all connected to a kraken under the murky water. So by diving under the surface, we’ll be able to defeat whatever is stopping you from getting what you want.
