Child and family therapy

A therapist will ask you and your child many questions. This helps them know how to best help your child.  During this visit, tell the therapist as much as you can about your child’s and family history, stressors, strengths, and difficulties. Tell the therapist what has worked in the past, and what has not. You and your child may also fill out some questionnaires.

Much of what happens early in therapy is for the therapist and child to develop trust with each other.  The child must feel safe, comfortable, and understood so they participate in the therapy activities that will help them get better.  

A treatment plan is a written set of goals you, your child, and the therapist make during the first few visits. These goals help your child learn and practice new skills and behaviors. You and your child will work on these goals in therapy, at home, and in school. A treatment plan and goals will change during treatment as your child’s and family’s needs change.

This too depends upon your child’s and family’s needs.  Therapy takes time to learn and make meaningful changes. You will not see immediate results. Some therapy may take many months. Coming to all scheduled appointments and working on the treatment plan at home helps. Talk to your child’s therapist about how long they think therapy may last.

You play a very important role!  To make the most of your child’s experience in therapy, please make sure you and your child make every scheduled visit. Tell the therapist about your child’s and your family’s progress and setbacks since the last visit. Share your concerns, questions, and feedback. Help your child work on their treatment plan goals between visits. Ask your child’s therapist for reading materials, online resources, or parent support groups. Therapy can be difficult; make sure to acknowledge their efforts and progress when you see it and support and guide them when they are struggling.

Call your therapist if you have concerns between visits. 
In the event of a life-threatening emergency, call 9-1-1.

Your child will likely be done with therapy when they meet all or most of their treatment plan goals. This means they are feeling and doing better! Everyone should agree that ending therapy is the best thing to do. You, your child, and the therapist will talk about how to know when it’s time for this to happen.

The therapist will create a discharge plan with your input to help your child and family continue all of the great work that happened in therapy.  It may include post-discharge goals, resources, safety plans, and other helpful information. You can call anytime if you feel it is best for your child to return to therapy.

Financial assistance is available to families who need it. Find our financial assistance policy and view the application.

Therapist or Qualified Treatment Trainee

New visit/Intake: $309.25–$357
Established visit (follow up)/30 mins. (approx.): $176.75–$179
Established visit (follow up)/45 mins. (approx.): $236.25–$298
Established visit (follow up)/60 mins. (approx..): $352.25–$388

Psychologist

New visit/Intake: $356
Established visit (follow up)/30 mins. (approx.): $236
Established visit (follow up)/45 mins. (approx.): $315
Established visit (follow up)/60 mins. (approx..): $470

*If your child is receiving testing services by a psychologist, please work with your insurance company on what is covered. We are happy to provide the billing codes, units, and prices upon request; however your insurance company will be able to give a better estimate of total approved expenses and any out of pocket costs you may have.

The rates listed above are for our most often billed therapy services. For therapists and psychologists, there may be additional charges for group therapy, family therapy, emergency therapy, and consultation. Please talk to your provider or our Financial Services team if you have questions or a service you know your child will be receiving is not listed here.

Psychiatry

New visit/Intake: $473.25
Established visit (follow up): the price range starts between $114 and $309 per visit and will vary depending on time spent, level of complexity, whether or not therapy was provided in addition to medication management services, and consultation.  

Clinic fees are billed to insurance for those with coverage. We will submit your claims to your insurance company, and you will receive monthly statements. Children’s provides care regardless of a family's ability to pay, and also offers financial assistance to families.

Our counseling centers are accredited by the Council on Accreditation. This organization reviews our administrative and service delivery practices every four years.

Counseling sessions are confidential. Information is shared only with a client’s permission – for legal purposes, insurance eligibility or the diagnosis, assessment or provision of other services.

Our office-based counseling programs include:

• Individual, family, and group therapy

• Grief and loss counseling

• Trauma-informed therapy and support

• Play therapy

• Psychological testing

• Medication management

• Pre- and post-adoption and foster care transition

Services vary by location.

Among the issues our counselors address with children and families are:

• Parent-child conflicts

• Academic or behavioral problems in school

• Depression and anxiety

• Low self-esteem

• Problems due to divorce, separation, remarriage, or the death of a loved one

• Anger management

• Physical or sexual abuse or other trauma

Our counselors are licensed by the state of Wisconsin and all have at least a master's degree. They have extensive experience working with children and their families, including those who are part of the child welfare system. Brief background profiles of our counselors are included on the location pages for our counseling centers.