Dr. Kevin Schloneger

To help ease the discomfort of meeting a new provider, I initially provide FYI to help with trust and understanding. It's ok if counseling feels uncomfortable or strange. A brief intro can help understand the treatment process, expectations, & safety for a supportive counseling relationship. First: I will ask for identifying documents to confirm identities of clients. Provide a minor's (anyone under age 18) birth certificate and biological parents' photo ID's for identification. Then, I will listen to what parents and kids understand and are saying about identified challenges and concerns.

It would benefit parent(s) to attend the initial session and be a part or all of various sessions throughout treatment. I appreciate what parents/caretakers have to say. The Emora messaging is a good way to communicate brief, direct info between provider/parent. The process of treatment can result in improved coping, life, & parenting skills. The caretaker has the important 24/7 job of parenting a child/teen. My goal is to support a caretaker's understanding and parenting efforts for their family bond and goals of treatment. I am here to help you achieve confidence despite life's challenges.

It is typical for a kid's reluctance to talk to a new adult, especially if the kid thinks the provider is expected to judge them. No one wants to be judged or labeled as wrong, crazy, bad, or more in trouble. Safety is 1st. I do a brief intro before anyone talks to establish interactions to be more at ease. I usually ask if the kid and I can have private talks without anyone else in the session. I ask if what the kid shares with me be kept just between me and that child/teen until that kid is comfortable sharing with their parents. Listening, understanding, activities, and humor can help.

I always give homework assignments, but they are usually what the parents and/or kids are already doing, with a twist. The idea is to aim towards the goals of parents, and their teens/children/kids are wanting to achieve. The idea is for the parents and kids to manage what is happening better. Homework is learning how to achieve better (which seemed impossible when didn't know/believe how). When confronting the problem(s), symptoms can worsen, so keep me informed of how you are doing to effectively address any issues. I am with you on this journey and discovery.

A person is NOT crazy when unknown/new experiences are unexpectedly disturbing. Learning is a lifelong process. When the parents and the kids have learned and regularly practice life habits that support their aims, they are done. Life will always have challenges and unexpected changes. My goal is to support problem-solving skills and a lifestyle, which support how to live, even during problems. Problems are a part of life. Mistakes are a part of learning and growing. The aim is to identify & practice how to live life as productively as possible. So, my goal is to work myself out of a job.

No one likes to talk about painful, shameful, uncomfortable experiences and feelings. My goal is to provide safety for a person to approach troubling issues. A person wants to be understood and safe to learn/grow in the midst of the challenges, hurt, & mistakes. Understandably, clients experience discomfort before sessions knowing they will be talking about negativity in their life. It takes time to trust someone new, including a provider. Safety is a priority to support leaning, growing, and confidence. How to identify strengths, improved problem-solving, and finding good will be supported.

This is covered in the initial FYI. I ask caretakers/parents to allow privacy for their child/teen to talk with me alone at times during treatment. Unless there is a threat to themselves or others, I ask the parents to allow what is shared by their kid with me be kept private until that kid is willing to share with their parent(s). This can support trust in the therapist and skills in family communication and parenting. And, that is a major goal of treatment. I prep the kid on how to share and why it might be important. Kids want their parents to understand them, not just the provider.

There are no one-size fits all solutions. The problem(s) & goal(s) vary. Treatment depends on both parents and kids' understanding, learning, and adapting life/coping skills for whatever is confronting their lives. Patience, asking questions, practice, growing pains, and the process of rapport (fancy word for trust) are individual and unique for each parent/caregiver and child/teen. Respecting for how someone grows/changes can support how treatment progresses. I appreciate you allowing me to be a part of your life's journey at this time in your lives. My goal is to work myself out of a job.