The Value of a Therapeutic Consultant
When parents are navigating finding therapeutic resources for their offspring, it can often be a lonely road to walk down. That is, until you find other parents that are in a similar situation. Relief! Parent communities and support networks really can make or break a parent feeling isolated and unsupported in an emotionally charged time. Those connections sometimes lead to recommendations for therapeutic consultants or programs, but no single situation or treatment path is the same. When parents are referred to a therapeutic consultant, they often ask the question “what is a therapeutic consultant?,” followed by “what is the value of a therapeutic consultant?” I get asked this often and in the moment, it’s sometimes difficult to answer succinctly. Every family’s situation is different and how they see value in something is also individualized. Below you will find the top talking points that highlight the value of hiring a therapeutic consultant.
1. Therapeutic Consultant is not emotionally attached to your child.
Recommendations are made solely around therapeutic expertise and intimate knowledge and matchmaking of the program and people. Unlike a parent who may be worried about what they think will make the child happy/less mad - the Therapeutic Consultant is thinking about what is best for that young person and their family.
2. Therapeutic Consultants can be your “consumer advocate.”
When plans change, and they often do, the Therapeutic Consultant can quickly shift gears to seek out appropriate resources for your child. This allows you to focus on your own emotional needs as well as the situation at-hand with your child, knowing that you have a professional hustling behind the scenes for you.
3. Therapeutic Consultant is not in the trenches of the crisis with your child.
Therapeutic Consultants are informed of day-to-day chaos and struggles that you and your child are experiencing - but we’re not in the thick of it with you. We have the ability to gather information and continue to hold a 10,000-foot view to ensure we have clear vision around where you and your child are heading. This also allows us to have "brain-space" to make decisions free of the distraction of your child and anything else happening in your life.
4. Therapeutic Consultants have insider knowledge that parents won’t have.
Truth is, Therapeutic Consultants have insider knowledge parents will just not have immediate access to. That includes knowing about ownership changes, staff changes, or deaths. Therapeutic Consultants also subscribe to the philosophy of “what worked for Billy is not guaranteed to work for Johnny.” Not that it’s not a great program, just that milieu’s shift. It may just not be the right time. And there is not one standard program and staff for all people who are dealing with mental health or substance abuse disorder.
5. Therapeutic Consultants help with your investments.
Treatment is one of, if not the most important investment(s) you'll ever make as a parent with a child who needs help. You want to make sure it's a fully researched and vetted investment, and Therapeutic Consultants can help you assess that. Think of it this way: you wouldn't invest $50k+ on a retirement home for your parent based on the website and Google reviews. Or atleast I hope you wouldn’t!
6. Therapeutic Consultants’ expertise is knowledge of treatment programs.
This is not your area of expertise, no matter how smart, educated and intelligent you are. I often tell parents that they are certainly capable of researching and interviewing programs, but at the end of this day - this is my job. Why not bring on an expert in that space to help you?
Therapeutic Consultants themselves are an investment to bring into the fold. Just like programs, not all Therapeutic Consultants are the same. You will want to interview them to find out who is the expert in specifically finding the mental health or substance abuse resources for your child.
For questions or comments contact Joanna.
