15 Questions a Child Psychologist Might Ask in Your First Appointment
Preparing for your first appointment with a child mental health expert? Here are 15 questions a psychologist or psychiatrist might ask your child in the first appointment.
As your first appointment with your child’s mental health professional approaches, you might be feeling curious or unsure about what to expect. This guide will walk you through several examples of questions a child psychologist might ask to help you prepare.
In this article, you’ll learn:
Guidelines for your first appointment with a child psychologist
Remember that, even though every provider will ask different questions, the purpose is always the same: to understand you and your child, and build a care plan that fits your family.
“It’s important for families to know that nothing about the visit is about assigning blame - it’s all about supporting the family to support the child.”
This first appointment is the beginning of your relationship with your child mental health provider, so that means that you’re welcome to ask questions, too. Here are 40+ questions that you can ask a child psychologist when you begin care.
What type of questions will a child psychologist ask in the first appointment?
In this first appointment, you can expect your child’s psychiatrist or psychologist to ask a variety of questions about the child's symptoms, behaviors, interactions with family and peers, past medical and psychological history, and any information that could help the psychologist better understand the child's situation. Depending on the age and developmental level of the child, the questions may be more open-ended or structured.
In general, there are three common types of therapy questions you may be asked by a child mental health provider:
Questions around individual and family history
Questions about your family’s story and current situation
Questions about your family’s goals
If your child is younger or experiences challenges communicating, your mental health provider will likely direct many of these questions at you. They may also spend time talking with your child while playing to build trust and ask them questions about their experiences, too. If your child is older or more communicative, however, your psychologist will likely communicate with them more directly.
We’ll dive more into the specific questions next.
Questions about individual and family history
Like other medical or mental health professionals, your child’s psychologist will ask for some basic information before your first appointment. This information-gathering stage is sometimes called the “intake process.”
The goal is to understand what factors, experiences, and concerns may have led your family to seek this consultation.
In addition to basic demographic details, a child mental health professional may ask about:
Your child’s medical and mental health history
Family medical and mental health history
Records of previous screenings or assessments
Any other providers your child or family works with
“Parents and caregivers are the ones who know their child the very best. We take a whole person, whole family, and whole team approach.”
Keep in mind that you’re not obligated to share certain personal or sensitive details if it makes you feel uncomfortable. While it’s important for your child’s provider to have an understanding of your family’s experiences, your story is your own. You get to decide what parts of it to share.
Questions about your family's story and current situation
This first appointment is also an opportunity to explain your family’s story and any concerns in your own voice. With these questions, your psychologist is looking to learn more about your and your child’s unique experiences and perspectives.
“I like to ask, ‘Beyond what’s on paper, I’d really like to hear in your own words what brings you in today, and how you think I might be able to help,’” Dr. Steinbuchel added.
Your provider will likely ask questions about:
Your child’s personality, challenges, and feelings
What your child enjoys and does well
How your child navigates different environments (social, academic, family, romantic)
How you spend time as a family
When you feel most connected (particularly if the child is older or a teen)
Your home environment and routines (like mealtimes and household rules)
Your approach to discipline and caregiving
If there have been any major life changes - for example, a move, new school, parental separation or divorce, a new sibling, or loss of a loved one - this is the time to share. These kinds of changes can have an impact on your child’s feelings and behaviors in ways that may not be immediately obvious.
These kinds of therapy questions for kids are about building understanding and trust. These details will give your child’s mental health provider a complete picture of your family so they can create a plan that works for you.
Questions about your family's goals
During your first appointment, your mental health provider might ask about your goals and what challenges feel most important to work on first.
“The most important questions are often around what families perceive as the issue at hand.”
“Progress will be defined by everyone's perception of what the issue is,” Dr. Hong added. “That may not always be easily defined by a diagnosis, or will vary between the parent and child, or the family and provider.”
Your mental health or therapy provider might ask questions like:
What are your timelines and treatment goals?
What challenges feel most important to work on first?
To older children, teens, or the whole family:
If you could wave a magic wand and have things be different by the next holiday, what would that look like?
What do you think you want help with?
To younger children:
If you were a superhero, what type of superpower might you have?
If a genie came out of a bottle and granted you 1-3 wishes, what would those be?
In this appointment and beyond, know that your provider should welcome questions about your child’s progress. You know your child best; implementing your feedback and input will be critical to your child’s success.
Together you’ll co-create a plan of care based on meaningful short and long-term goals for your child and your family.
“You don’t harvest fruit on the day you plant the seeds,” added Dr. Steinbuchel. “This process takes some time and may not have immediate results, but these will be appreciated more over time.”
Remember, these questions are designed to help the mental health provider understand your family’s stories, worries, and goals so that they can provide care that supports you.
How your first appointment with Little Otter is different
Little Otter helps families connect with a mental health professional - when and where needed. Our award-winning online therapy for kids takes a whole-family approach. We know that when one member of the family is struggling, it impacts everyone.
Our totally new approach to therapy invites the whole family in. Yes, we offer children’s therapy - but we also offer couples counseling, psychiatry, mental health check-ups, maintenance, and so much more. As your family evolves, your care does, too. Get started with Little Otter to experience a new approach to child and family therapy.
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