A Parent’s Guide: Questions to Ask before Choosing a Therapist

Finding the right therapist for your child is crucial. This comprehensive guide equips parents with essential questions to ask, helping you make informed decisions and ensure their child receives the best possible support.

Finding the right therapist for your child’s developmental, speech, or behavioral needs is a big decision. Whether you’re exploring Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech Therapy, or Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA), it’s important to know what to ask before committing to a provider. This guide will help you approach that first conversation with confidence, so you can feel assured your child is in good hands.

Start With the Basics: Experience & Credentials

Begin by understanding the therapist’s background. Ask about their qualifications, licenses, and how long they've worked in their specific field. It's also helpful to know if they have experience with children of your child’s age or diagnosis.

For example:

• Are they trained in sensory integration (for OT)?
• Do they specialize in certain speech disorders?
• Are their ABA staff certified and supervised by a licensed BCBA?

This is your chance to make sure they’re not only qualified, but also experienced in meeting the unique needs of children like yours.

Understand Their Approach

Therapists all have different philosophies, and it's important that their approach aligns with your child’s needs and your family’s values. Ask what a typical session looks like and how they keep therapy engaging. Do they use play? How involved are parents in the sessions?

Good follow-up questions include:

• How do you tailor your sessions to meet individual goals?
• How do you involve families in the process?
• What does progress typically look like, and how is it measured?
• What’s the outcome of each target in the intervention?

Their answers will give you insight into how collaborative and child-centered their work truly is.

Know What to Expect Logistically

Before committing, clarify the practical details. Ask about:

• Fees and insurance
• Cancellation policies
• Session length and frequency
• Availability (including telehealth or in-home options)

This helps you determine whether the therapist fits your schedule, budget, and lifestyle.

Dig Deeper by Therapy Type

Depending on the type of therapy your child needs, consider asking some more targeted questions:

For Occupational Therapy:

• How do you support sensory processing, fine motor, or self-care skills?
• Do you use specific tools or adaptive strategies?

For Speech Therapy:

• What kinds of communication challenges do you treat?
• How do you work on speech sound errors or language development?
• Do you have experience with AAC (Augmentative and Alternative Communication) if needed?

For ABA Therapy:

• Who will be supervising my child’s program? How often will they be directly involved?
• How do you train and support RBTs (Registered Behavior Technicians)?
• What’s your approach to challenging behaviors and positive reinforcement?
• How do you ensure skills learned in therapy transfer to everyday environments like home or school?

Communication is Key

A great therapist doesn’t just work with your child, they partner with you. Ask how often they provide progress updates, and in what format (verbal, written reports, data summaries). You should feel comfortable reaching out with questions and confident that you’ll be kept in the loop.

Choosing a therapist is about more than checking credentials. It’s about finding someone who listens, collaborates, and creates a safe, engaging space for your child to grow. Ask the questions that matter to you, and trust your instincts, because when you feel confident in your child’s care, that’s when real progress begins.

Connect with Compassionate Behavior Care to explore our range of developmental therapies and professional courses designed to support growth and transformation.

+971554960984 | info@compassionatebehaviorcare.com