Marshal Maiwald

I typically begin by meeting with the parent(s) or guardian(s) first. During this session, we'll discuss your concerns, goals for therapy, what led you to seek services, and any relevant medical, developmental, or family history. This helps me better understand your child's needs and develop a plan for moving forward.

I believe parent involvement is an important part of the therapy process. I typically provide updates to parent(s) or guardian(s) at least every other session. In addition, I usually schedule a parent session every 6–8 sessions to review progress, discuss goals, and answer any questions. Depending on your child's needs, these meetings may occur more or less frequently.

I believe trust is an important part of therapy, so I let teens know that what they share with me will generally remain confidential. If a situation arises that requires me to break confidentiality, I will discuss it with your teen first and, when appropriate, encourage them to share the information with you alongside me.

Confidentiality may be broken in the following situations:

• Imminent danger to themselves or others
• Suspected abuse or neglect of a child, elderly person, or person with a disability
• Sexual exploitation of a client by a therapist
• When required by a court order or subpoena

If your child or teen is hesitant to talk, that's okay. Building trust can take time. In these situations, I often work more closely with parent(s) or guardian(s) to provide tools, strategies, and guidance that can support your child outside of session. Even when a child is not ready to open up, meaningful progress can still occur through the family system.

Therapy is typically complete when the goals and best hopes identified at the beginning of treatment have been met. As we approach that point, we'll discuss whether there are any new goals to address. If not, I'll review progress with the parent(s) or guardian(s) to ensure meaningful change has occurred and that everyone feels confident moving forward without regular therapy sessions.