Early intervention has been key in why our son is thriving. However, there was so much we learned along the way in terms of therapy because we quickly found out all therapists are not created equal.
What is a therapy consultation?
The first thing, as with all things it’s good to have a consultation with any provider you are thinking of working with. Whether it be a family therapist or occupational therapist. I wouldn’t suggest this just for your child’s therapist, but anyone you are trusting with health-related care. A therapy consultation is just a short meeting to determine if the therapist is a good fit for your child and your family’s needs. You can get a feel for exactly who they are before the first session.
Last summer my son was called a racial slur while at therapy by one of his peers. I heard about this information from someone who was a witness. To say I was angry is an understatement. At that moment I felt like I failed my son. Why? Because it was my responsibility as his parent to make sure he was always safe. But also, because I asked every adult present what they did after it happened. They did nothing. None of the therapists in the facility knew how to handle a situation like this. Now I was wondering if this was even a safe place for him. Being Black with Autism is a different journey. But had I even asked the right questions at the initial consultation?
How do I prepare for a therapy consultation?
When looking for a potential therapist, you have to do your due diligence and that includes research. One of the main reasons I started my blog is because once we got our son’s diagnosis I didn’t know where to go from there. I had so many questions and I couldn’t find the answers. What are the types of therapy? What could I expect at the first therapy session? How should I prepare for a therapy consultation? I saw a lot of different blogs of special-needs parents but none from the perspective of Black parents. In order to find the right therapist, I had to get into the habit of jotting down any questions or concerns I had.
After our son had a diagnosis my first step was making sure any or all therapy sessions would be covered by the insurance company. Since a lot of health insurance does not cover most autism related services. You may be able to see if they offer a free consultation, or free phone consultations. If it’s not in network and you have to use out-of-network benefits, then you might have to factor in cost of therapy.
What are some questions you can ask your therapist to see if they have experience with your specific issues
Thinking back to the day we visited the facility I know they asked us if we had any questions. But at that moment I was stuck, the therapist’s office did such a good job with their presentation (or so I thought) I never thought to come prepared to the therapy consultation with a list of questions. I didn’t know what I should have been asking, or even if there was an appropriate way to go about it. Especially not as it relates to Black autism. I most definitely didn’t think to ask how they would handle racism with potential clients. However, now that I am more aware and dealing with our past experience. I want to pass on what I have learned so far about having a successful therapeutic relationship.
If they aren’t black, it’s a good idea to ask them if they have ever worked with black children.
This might make them uncomfortable. That’s not your fault, we need to normalize having these conversations and asking direct questions. A good therapist should be able to have conversations and regularly engage in dialogues about diversity. Your child’s individual therapy and treatment plan is all that matters.
If this is their first time it tells you where you need to go with your conversation next.
Your next steps would be to let them know what issues are important to you as Black parents. This can be self-advocacy and what that means for a black child. Teaching your child how to advocate for himself when encountering law enforcement. Or even what to do when you are called a racial slur.
Have they had cultural sensitivity training?
This is honestly the most important thing to me, and I would want to know before the first appointment. Cultural sensitivity is the knowledge, awareness, and acceptance of other cultures and others’ cultural identities. Finding a therapist who is culturally sensitive can help new clients feel understood by their therapist. I didn’t blame the therapists for what happened to our son, but I was angry at the lack of awareness and empathy shown to us afterwards.
Pro Tip: If they respond with “I don’t see color,” or some sort of “color-blind” answer. That’s a red flag. Ignoring differences is not the same as understanding and acknowledgment. Don’t feel bad if you have to find a different therapist who is a better fit for your family.
Are they able to meet the needs of culturally diverse clients?
One of the important things to remember is that you are the expert on your own culture. In order to find the best therapist, make sure that your needs, questions, concerns are always being heard. Not just what they feel is important. Even though you should be going over your child’s goals, recommended activities and behavior supports it’s also a great opportunity to get clarification on anything you don’t understand.
Discuss what your realistic expectations are for them at the therapy consultation. They need to know what it is to interact with and understand children of color.
Black parents shouldn’t have to do the work for you.
I never want my son’s “safe space” to start mirroring society. I don’t expect anyone to be an expert on all things Black culture. However, when you knowingly enter a space in which there will be cultural differences at play, do a bit of homework beforehand. With everything we have to deal with as Black parents, we should not have to do the work for you.
Our son gets occupational therapy and speech therapy. The first visit was an evaluation. This would be a good place to start building trust and communication with your prospective therapist. As a Black parent I wanted to find a Black therapist for my son because cultural competency is extremely important to us. And having a provider who can actually relate to you is invaluable. However, that proved to be hard, so I had to make sure whoever I found was a good match for us. I had to look at all of the resources available to us in our community. We have now found therapists who are a right fit for us, and our son has been thriving. The only way this has been possible is because we work cohesively with everyone on his team and engage in open and honest communication.
Leave a Reply