Should I Continue My Child's Therapy After an Ohio Emergency Custody Order?
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Reviewed & verified by A. Jason Velez, Esq.*
Managing Attorney, 1LAW · Last reviewed January 1, 2026
Legal Inquiry
Consumer Legal Issue
I filed for emergency custody of my child and was granted emergency custody on the first. My child is in therapy, and the therapist charges sixty-eight dollars per session, but I don't have proof of payment. My child told me she reported the abuse to the therapist, and the therapist said they could not help her. Should I continue taking her to this therapist?
Attorney Answer
Because your child disclosed something to the therapist, the first step is finding out exactly what the therapist meant by saying they could not help her, since that shapes what you should do next.
Under Ohio Revised Code 2151.421, therapists, counselors, and other mental health professionals must report suspected child abuse to the county's public children services agency or local law enforcement once they learn of it. This mandatory reporting duty applies whether or not you have paid for services in full. If the therapist meant they already made a report and are stepping back because abuse treatment falls outside their training, ask for a referral to a therapist who specializes in trauma or child abuse counseling, ideally one connected to a local Children's Advocacy Center. If you are not sure a report was ever made, you do not have to wait on the therapist to act. You can contact your county's Job and Family Services children services division or local police yourself.
On the therapy bills, contact the therapist's billing or front office and ask for a printed statement or invoice history. Most practices keep records even if you were never handed a receipt at the time, and this documentation can matter for your custody case by showing you are actively supporting your child's mental health needs.
As for whether to continue therapy, consistent mental health support is generally viewed positively in custody matters, so continuing care with a qualified provider, even if it needs to be a different one, is usually the right direction rather than stopping altogether. What matters most is that the provider is equipped to handle what your child disclosed.
What you can do now:
1. Ask the therapist directly, in writing, whether a report was filed and what they meant by not being able to help. 2. If no report was made and you believe abuse occurred, report it yourself to county children services or police. 3. Request a full billing statement covering all sessions so far. 4. Ask for a referral to a trauma-informed therapist if the current one is not equipped for this.
Because this involves an active custody case and a child abuse disclosure, a local Ohio family law attorney should review the full picture. This is general legal information, not legal advice, and a lawyer licensed in Ohio can advise you on your specific situation.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to report the abuse myself if the therapist already knows?
Ohio law makes therapists mandated reporters, so once they learn of suspected abuse they must report it to children services or police. If you are not sure a report was filed, you can make one yourself rather than waiting to find out.
How can I prove I have been paying for therapy without a receipt?
Contact the therapist's billing office and ask for a printed statement or invoice history. Most practices can generate one even if you were never handed a receipt at the time of each session.
What happens after an emergency custody order in Ohio?
Emergency or temporary custody orders are usually followed by a further hearing where the court reviews the fuller picture. Keeping records of therapy, expenses, and communications helps prepare for that hearing.
