06/08/2026
🌿 Why I begin with a caregiver meeting 🌿
Before therapy begins, I always start by meeting with caregivers.
For me, an initial caregiver meeting is an essential part of the therapeutic process.
Children don’t exist in isolation. Every child has a story, a history, important relationships, experiences, strengths and challenges that help us understand who they are.
The caregiver meeting is an opportunity for parents and carers to share the bigger picture — their child’s developmental history, what has been happening recently, what they are noticing, what they are worried about, what feels difficult, and what they hope might change.
As parents and carers, you know your child better than anyone. This conversation gives you the space to share the things that are important for me to understand, helping me to begin building a picture of your child as a whole person.
This meeting forms the foundation of future therapy. It helps me to understand what support might be most helpful and allows us to think together about the best way forward.
But it’s not just about gathering information.
It’s also about relationships.
The therapeutic relationship is at the heart of effective therapy. The caregiver meeting gives families the opportunity to meet me, ask questions, experience the space, and decide whether The Play Therapy Haven feels like the right fit for their child.
For some children and young people, they may also want to be part of this initial conversation. This is always guided by the child, their age and stage of development, and each family’s individual preferences. Some children and young people appreciate having their voice included from the beginning, while others may prefer their caregivers to share information first.
Finding the right therapist matters. A child needs to feel safe, understood and accepted before meaningful therapeutic work can begin.
A caregiver meeting is the first step in creating that foundation. 💚