Some of the children in foster care also see a therapist.  The therapist also is part of the Treatment Team, along with you and the Agency Social Worker.  The therapist’s role is to work individually with the foster child to help the child deal with the feelings that arise when a child has been physically or sexually abused and has been abandoned. 

Although the therapist will communicate with you in general about the child’s progress in therapy, what happens in therapy is confidential. 

If you have any concerns, feel free to talk to your family social worker and/or the therapist about them.  There will be times that the therapist wishes to have you join the therapy sessions to work through issues together. 

Be aware that the therapist's role is exclusively on the well-being of the child. Therapist are also "mandated reporters" (just like foster parents) and therefore, are required to report any signs of potential abuse or any allegation and accusation that the child may disclose, no matter how unrealistic it may seem. 

See the therapist as a support. Although they cannot disclose specific issues that are shared in confidence, they may provide you with activities that you should do with the child as part of their treatment plan.

Always ensure that you take the child to their therapy appointments. Failure to take the child to therapy may be considered a violation of state and county regulation and foster parents may lose their certificate of approval (license).  If you are unable to take the child to therapy for any reason, please contact the office so that our staff can discuss ways to assist you.