FAQs

Interviewing a Therapist

Spring Ridge Academy uses a family systems and developmental therapeutic approach. Within this approach our therapists use a range of other modalities including Pia Melody’s work to Eriksonian hypnosis with experiential techniques in a nurturing and directive manner.

Spring Ridge Academy therapists are Licensed Marriage and Family Therapists or Licensed Professional Counselors or the associates of both types.

Here is a list of questions and suggestions for narrowing your search for a therapist:

• What are the therapist’s credentials, degree and licenses?
• What is their experience with adolescents?  And with adolescents returning from treatment facilities?
• What is their primary philosophy that they use in their practice? What are the modalities/methods he/she is trained in and uses regularly?
  • What do you know about Family Systems or Family Systems Theory? How do you utilize it in your work with clients? Do they do family work or if not do they have a colleague that they refer to and consult with?
  • How much work have they done with addiction, with substance dependence without physiological addiction, and codependence? Are they comfortable with integrating step work into heir therapeutic work?
  • Are they PIT trained? If so, have they done the Inner Child and Feeling Reduction trainings? If not PIT trained, have they heard of Pia Mellody and what do they know about her work?
  • What have you done in your own work on yourself and your family?
  • Do they diagnosis? What are the most frequent diagnosis’s they work with?
  • Are they directive when working with their clients?
  • How do you confront a client?
  • Do they use experiential techniques like homework? If so what are other ways they work experientially?
• How long have they been in practice?
• How do they feel about collaborating with Spring Ridge while still at SRA and for a short time afterwards?
• What type of treatment planning do they do and how much involvement will your daughter and or you have in that process?
• Give the therapist a scenario from your past (one that you have discussed while at SRA) so that you can have something to compare their style and level of intervention with.
• Overview the structure and guidelines you are learning to implement as a family and see how they support your structure and expectations.
• What are the terms of confidentiality? What information will and will not be share with parents?
• What will you not tolerate from a client that would cause you to terminate therapy or refer to another professional?
• Do they have evening hours?  Saturdays?

Here are two references for therapist searches in your area:

• To locate Post Induction Trained, PIT, therapists in your region call 1-800-MEADOWS
• American Association of Marriage and Family Therapy http://www.aamft.org
• Here is a site offering an overview of different degrees, credentials and licenses http://therapists.psychologytoday.com/rms/content/therapy_credentials.html