Guest guest Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 Hi . I'm new to this too, but I highly recommend the book, " What to Do when Your Child Has OCD, " by Aureen Pinto Wagner. She has a section covering what to look for in a therapist and support system,as well as an incredible wealth of information. My 10-y-o dd had her first appointment with the OCD specialist yesterday, and when the gal saw me reading the book she said it was one of the best. Wishing you well! -Angi Subject: Questions to Ask... To: Date: Sunday, March 21, 2010, 4:52 AM  Hi All -- I'm in the process of searching / researching therapist for our 4.5yo son in our area. This is our first time working with a behavior therapist. Aside from looking for a therapist that specializes in OCD and CBT / EBR, are there any other questions you recommend I should ask the therapist? It sounds like many of you have had good therapists and bad ones so in hind sight, are there questions you should have asked / things you thought you should have looked for to ensure you'll get the right therapy for your child. Thanks! in VA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 21, 2010 Report Share Posted March 21, 2010 I would recommend doing phone consults while trying to choose a therapist, to make sure they know OCD and how to treat it using CBT and more importantly, ERP. Most are willing to do so, and if they aren't, they probably aren't very flexible for anything else either so probably not one you can work with. Most will call you back at their convenience. The reason I suggest that is, if you go to see them, then find out they haven't a clue on how to treat OCD, you just wasted an appointment, your time, and money. Some insurance companies limit your appointments, so you don't want to waste any, trying to find a therapist. (Mistake we made, at first) Some of the questions I asked. . . Do you use ERP? (If they don't know what that is, that is generally a clue that they do not know how to treat OCD correctly. If you ask them if they use CBT, they will say yes. CBT is used for many things, so most therapists know it. Yet, with OCD, CBT has to be specific to OCD, using ERP. So ERP is the key.) When can therapy start? What are you hours? Can you accommodate weekly appointments if needed? Do you take my insurance? If not, do you take any insurance? If so, would you be willing to work with my insurance on a single case agreement? (If you can prove to your insurance company that nobody they offer in-network is a specialist in the treatment of OCD, using ERP, then they can cover someone out-of-network with a single case agreement, paying it as if it is in-network. But, the doctor has to agree to it, since it is usually paid at a lower amount. Cost and length of evaluation? (Should be a couple of appointments of evaluation, then making hierarchy list, then starting ERP therapy) Cost and length of sessions? (Most are an hour, but if you have to drive a distance, some with book for two appointments back to back) How many children with OCD have you seen and treated successfully? How long have you been treating kids with OCD? Are you willing to make home visits, if they are unable to come to you? Do you involve parents in the therapy? (I've heard some in here, over the years, say that the therapist did not have contact with them at all. In order to help you child at home, you need to be involved. On our son's therapist's office, we go in together at the beginning to discuss how things have been going. I leave but come back at the end of the appointment to discuss what he will be working on and how I can help.) Can we meet privately, without the child, if needed? (There has been a couple of times that was needed with our son.) Are you available between appointments, if we have questions or a crisis? (There has been a few times we needed to call the therapist, when Josh was melting down, and didn't hear me, but would listen to him.) Do you work with schools? (We didn't need this since we homeschool, but if your child is having problems at school, due to OCD, it is helpful to have a therapist willing to work with the school for the benefit of your child.) If your child has other issues (ADD, ADHD, BPD, ODD, GAD, AS, etc.), you might want to mention it to make sure they work with children who have other difficulties too. Check to make sure the therapist is in good standing. When we were searching for a therapist, one that was listed with the ocfoundation.org website even, (still is), was charged with sexual misconduct with the state department of health. He is still on probation. Hope that is helful, . If you have any more questions, please ask. BJ > > Hi All -- > > I'm in the process of searching / researching therapist for our 4.5yo son in our area. This is our first time working with a behavior therapist. Aside from looking for a therapist that specializes in OCD and CBT / EBR, are there any other questions you recommend I should ask the therapist? It sounds like many of you have had good therapists and bad ones so in hind sight, are there questions you should have asked / things you thought you should have looked for to ensure you'll get the right therapy for your child. > > Thanks! > in VA > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted March 22, 2010 Report Share Posted March 22, 2010 yes, How many children with ocd have you succesfully treated??? Hugs Judy ________________________________ To: Sent: Sun, March 21, 2010 7:52:15 AM Subject: Questions to Ask...  Hi All -- I'm in the process of searching / researching therapist for our 4.5yo son in our area. This is our first time working with a behavior therapist. Aside from looking for a therapist that specializes in OCD and CBT / EBR, are there any other questions you recommend I should ask the therapist? It sounds like many of you have had good therapists and bad ones so in hind sight, are there questions you should have asked / things you thought you should have looked for to ensure you'll get the right therapy for your child. Thanks! in VA Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: * New Members 10 Visit Your Group Our list archives feature may be accessed at: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group// by scrolling down to the archives calendar . Our links may be accessed at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group//links . Our files may be accessed at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group//files . Our list advisors are Gail B. , Ed.D.(http://www.ocdawareness.com ), Tamar Chansky, Ph.D.( http://www.worrywisekids.org ), and Dan Geller, M.D. ( http://www.massgeneral.org/doctors/doctor.aspx?ID=18068 ). You may ask a question of any of these mental health professionals by inserting the words " Ask Dr.(insert name) " in the subject line of a post to the list. Our list moderators are Castle, Judy Chabot, BJ Closner, and Barb Nesrallah. You may contact the moderators at -owner . Our group and related groups are listed at http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/ocdsupportgroups/links . IOCDF treatment providers list may be viewed at http://www.ocfoundation.info/treatment-providers-list.php . NLM-NIH Drug Information Portal may be viewed at http://druginfo.nlm.nih.gov/drugportal/drugportal.jsp?APPLICATION_NAME=drugporta\ l . IOCDF recommended reading list may be accessed at http://www.ocfoundation.org/Books.aspx . IOCDF glossary of terms may be accessed at http://www.ocfoundation.org/glossary.aspx . IOCDF membership link may be accessed at http://www.ocfoundation.net/membership/ . Drugs.com pill identification wizard may be accessed at http://www.drugs.com/imprints.php . Mayo Clinic Drug and Herb Index may be accessed at http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/drug-information/DrugHerbIndex . Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest • Unsubscribe • Terms of Use .. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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