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Post by abiee on Dec 5, 2013 10:57:54 GMT
My DD (7) has just started seeing a child psychologist at CAMHS
He is a private therapist who they are buying some time off, I have looked at his website and he is not a specialist child psychologist and works with all ages and all conditions
I am concerned about his approach.
Firstly he insists that if he is going to work with DD then it must be with her alone.
After the first session she was very distressed. I rang and told him this (I was concerned anyway that he did not seek out information about how she was after the session or even speak to me at all after the session).
He doesn't seem to believe that she was distressed because she didn't show any sign of distress in the session
I did insist that I go in with her until she was settled then sit outside so she knew I was close by. I stayed for about 10 mins then sat outside the room, DD moved the chair so that I was just by the door which enabled me to have a listen
When uncomfortable DD sucks her clothes and tries to tear them
She must have been doing this as he said - I can see you are stretching the seam, I wonder if you are trying to find out how strong it it, will it break, I wonder if you worry if people are strong enough to look after you
This is very much his approach. His language was very adult and several time I thought DD wouldn't have a clue what he was talking about
We have had major trauma in the past after badly done therapy so I am concerned and not convinced that his approach will do anything
Any comments about this approach?
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Post by flutterby on Dec 5, 2013 12:00:31 GMT
I think you are right to question his approach. I cannot understand why CAHMS would buy in a psych who does not specialize in children, never mind adopted ones.
And he seems to have asked leading questions too. I am not sure that this is in any child's interest. Have you explained her stress reactions to him and if so, did he take this on board? No seven year-old should be expected to sit with a total stranger on their own for an hour, maybe do this after a few sessions with you, so she gets used to the idea of being there.
He is probably good in a general sense, but I would raise this with CAHMS/my social worker with a view to getting the right support. Maybe along the lines of you do not want them to waste valuable resources on something that is not right and you would rather wait until they have managed to find an appropriate therapist who specializes in children. - Especially when there has already been an attempt at therapy, which backfired. This cannot be too much to ask.
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Post by pluto on Dec 5, 2013 13:19:42 GMT
To be honest this sounds like a total waist of time, your daughter has fas and needs to be seen by someone who knows about fas and that those children function about half their emotional age. Nobody talks like that to a 4 year old. I pressume your daughter is on the surface a good talker? also a fas sign, and because of that the psychiologists thinks she functions higher than she does. Has your daughter had tests of her functioning levels in the different areas including IQ?
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Post by bagpuss72 on Dec 5, 2013 14:16:09 GMT
I agree with Flutterby and Pluto, I would definitely have concerns too.
We have just finished an assessment with a clinical psychologist at Camhs for our 8 year old. She was also bought in by Camhs, she did however have experience of working with LAC/adopted children, but even so admitted she had never worked with a child presenting such complex and conflicting behaviour as Bert. She is referring him onto a psychiatrist. During a multi-agency meeting this week it was suggested he should see a psychiatrist through a local child development centre. We were not happy with this option as DS attended there during foster care and post AO. It was not a great experience for our family .The community paediatrician was good with the physical developmental stuff but agreed she didn’t have experience of the behavioural issues DS was presenting. Fortunately it has now been agreed that it would be better for Bert to be seen by a Camhs Psychiatrist, even though a longer waiting list because we are already working with them, and they have the specialist staff who understand his issues.
Like your daughter, Bert didn’t show any distress during an appointment, in fact came across as cocky and confident when in fact in the car on the way home he was very upset. We were also allowed to go in for the first 10 mins, to settle him down. When she visited DS at school he was introverted and over compliant, anxious and hyper vigilant. Theres’ a lot going on !
I would trust your gut feelings on this. If you have had bad reactions to therapy in the past I would be pushing for DD to be seen by someone else. Good Luck with whatever you decide.
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thespouses
Bronze Member
Married Adopter
Posts: 91 
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Post by thespouses on Dec 5, 2013 14:22:38 GMT
She needs to see a paediatrican, an ed psych, or a clinical psychologist who can do some actual assessments of abilities, work out her strengths and weaknesses, as pluto says. She may not have "a syndrome" or she may do, but this kind of assessment would work out exactly what she has difficulties with.
Talking therapy is hard enough for children who don't have a learning disability (though some kinds can work, with some children) let alone one who really doesn't understand what the therapist is saying.
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Post by ceci on Dec 5, 2013 21:34:05 GMT
Hi Abiee
What you described could have been my daughter sitting there. I can just imagine her biting her clothes and hands. She would have no idea what the guy was saying!!! I said no to therapy at CAMHS because I couldn't be with her and I didn't feel they really understood well enough what we needed. Go with your gut feeling...
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Post by phoebe on Dec 5, 2013 21:48:00 GMT
I think you need a change of therapist, definitely. Ask for somebody supervised by Dan Hughes or Kim Golding if you're wanting DDP. If you want a diagnosis, you'll need to see a different team as CAMHS invariably tell you they are not in the business of labelling children! You'd probably need to go to PAC, GOSH or Family Futures to get a diagnosis. Good luck. x
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Post by phoebe on Dec 5, 2013 21:48:56 GMT
I think you need a change of therapist, definitely. Ask for somebody supervised by Dan Hughes or Kim Golding if you're wanting DDP. If you want a diagnosis, you'll need to see a different team as CAMHS invariably tell you they are not in the business of labelling children! You'd probably need to go to PAC, GOSH or Family Futures to get a diagnosis. Good luck. x
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Post by phoebe on Dec 5, 2013 21:49:11 GMT
I think you need a change of therapist, definitely. Ask for somebody supervised by Dan Hughes or Kim Golding if you're wanting DDP. If you want a diagnosis, you'll need to see a different team as CAMHS invariably tell you they are not in the business of labelling children! You'd probably need to go to PAC, GOSH or Family Futures to get a diagnosis. Good luck. x
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Post by jollymummy on Dec 5, 2013 22:34:58 GMT
You definitely should not continue with this psychologist. you know your child and you know when she is upset. I think you need to at least see someone who specialises in children if not in LAC/adoption issues. IF they are buying in this resource you would hope they would want to ensure that it is meeting the need of their "service user". Have you talked to the head of the CAMHS service?
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Post by abiee on Dec 7, 2013 17:37:33 GMT
Thanks for the responses
phoebe- the therapist who caused lots of problems had been trained by Dan Hughes himself. However, in true CAMHS style, it wasnt delivered how it should have been and DD was her first client (victim)
Our session this week- me and DD on a small sofa. Me sat and DD face down
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Post by abiee on Dec 7, 2013 17:41:29 GMT
Sorry, posted too early
DD took her shoes off and started 'running' her feet on the floor with her body still across the seat of the sofa and her face looking at the back
Therapist- I wonder what you are trying to tell me, I wonder if you are trying to get inside that sofa and hide
At which point DD pushed herself in between the cushions, so confirming what he thought was happening (not)
Yes its all very leading. He speaks too adult and she doesn't really have a clue
Anyway assessment over, he will have a meeting after xmas to give his opinion then I will say it is not the right approach for DD and CAMHS will say they have nothing else to offer
SS will say they have no money to fund anything else
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