After the forensic interview, you and your child may still need to talk
Susie’s Place creates a comfortable, safe space for reported child victims to talk about their experiences through a forensic interview. The interview is not a form of therapy or counseling. But the interview can help children start to understand some other challenges they’re facing.
After the forensic interview, your Child and Family Advocate will help connect you with a licensed mental health therapist, counselor, psychologist, or psychiatrist through a referral. You can talk with them about all of the options near you and what is most appropriate for your circumstance.
Susie’s Place works with trusted partners across west-central Indiana to provide mental health services.
As a caregiver, you may benefit from talking to someone, too.
Together, you and your child can overcome the trauma of abuse, develop a positive self-image, control and express healthy emotions, and build relationships.
Mental health professionals can help you and your child:
- Develop positive coping skills
- Decompress and lower stress
- Build or rebuild relationships and trust in others
- Discuss and overcome nightmares
- Understand and cope with flashbacks
- Recognize and handle anxiety, depression, self-blame, and aggression
- Prevent or overcome low self-esteem, hyperactivity, and low activity
- Develop appropriate sexual health practices
- If necessary and applicable, prescribe medication
A mental health professional is there to help your child build healthy relationships with you, their friends and classmates, and other adults like teachers.
Caregivers with children under the age of 14 may be asked to participate in most or all of the sessions. This does not impact the cost. Children 14 and older have confidentiality rights under the law and may choose not to share personal information with you. This is normal and part of their healing process. Talk to your therapist with any questions.
Paying for counseling and therapies
All of the services offered directly by Susie’s Place, including the forensic interview, are always free.
For mental health counseling, your Child and Family Advocate can help you meet the right people, talk about insurance coverage, payment options, and more.
- Most mental health providers offer free or low-cost consultations. This helps them and your child identify the biggest challenges they face.
- Virtual telehealth options are often available, reducing travel time and expenses.
- All of our trusted partners are licensed, trained, or credentialed in best practices for helping trauma survivors.
- Insurance covers many expenses, including virtual telehealth.
- Some funding sources are available to qualified families without insurance or facing high deductibles.
You and your child are not required to attend sessions, but we strongly recommend them. Every child is different, but the short and long-term effects of abuse are pervasive.
Even if your child doesn’t display many signs or symptoms, they may carry heavy burdens into adulthood where unhandled emotions and trauma can manifest in severe ways.
Read more about healing and recovery online
Susie’s Place is a member of the Indiana Chapter of the National Children’s Alliance. The Indiana Chapter provides additional guides for free that can help you learn about the impact of abuse on topics such as:
- Helping children heal after abuse
- Questions to ask a therapist
- Indiana Victim’s Rights law
- Common reactions from parents and caregivers