How many psychologists did it take? | ADHD Information

It is real hard to find a good fit, and because it takes time for a kid to open up, it takes so long to find the fit is not good.

We liked our first therapist (recommended by the pediatrician). When she felt my daughter would benefit from meds, she referred us to a psychiatrist she highly trusted. She left the door open in case we need to continue therapy at a later date (we haven't seen the need for therapy since meds-but that could change at any time).

Check with your insurance company, just so you know what to expect. In California, mental heath must be covered in the same manner as other healthcare per law. We get 20 visits (medical or psych) at our copay, then the rest are at a higher rate but not the full amount.

Vickie - I looked at my plan and I get 24 visits in a calendar year.

I don't know how many times I've been there but It's not 24.  I don't want to waste anymore visits. 

My husband and I are in total agreement so tomorrow I'm going to call my peditrician and see what he says. 

A friend of mine who is familar with mental health provides feels 90% of them are bad and you just have to keep searching. I don't agree with the 90% figure but it is sure hard to find good child psyhologists.

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My pediatrician referred us to the doctor we are currently seeing. We got lucky with the first try.

But to let you know our little story - he doesn't accept insurance, so after a year, we decided to try an in network doctor so that all we have to do is make a copayment. Well THAT doctor was horrible! He wanted us to teach HIM about medications!

We went to only 1 visit and called the original doctor. You could feel the difference just sitting in the chair between the two doctors.

Call your pediatrician, they should be able to help!

Beth

How many psychologists or psychiatrists have you gone to before you found the right one?

My husband and I are sooo frustrated.   We have been trying to find the right therapist and well, this is the second one.  We have using him since October - and well, now we feel he is not the right one.

I don't know how many sessions my insurance pays but I'm afraid at some point, they will deny them and then I'm going to have to pay on my own - which I will glady do if I see some progress.

He's very educated but his style is not right and my son doesn't like him. Also, this Dr. is very dissorganized and has a problem with time management - two things my son has problems with  So far, all this guy has done is diagnose my son as ADHD - inattentive with depression and anxiety.  He has implemented a 504 plan at the school.  Problem is, no therapy is happening!!  My son is in denial that he has a problem and the Dr. is trying to break the denial but he is not doing a good job of it.  He never seems my son without me and my husband and it just turnes into the same old same - my son denies things - my husband and I contradict him.  The therapist has not given us nor my son any strategies to help him deal with the oppositional defiance, anxiety and rages.

His latest thing is to allow my son to self monitor at school for a week at a time.

We already tried this and my son on his own, couldn't do it for a weekend and one day!  So, now my son says he wants to try it again and that is what we are doing this week!  My husband and I feel this is a waste of time and sets my son up for failure.  We know he is trying to get my son to admit he needs help, but we already have plenty of evidence to that fact.

We need a new therapist but the problems, as you know, are trying to find one, and then again, convincing my son that he needs one.

I have told my son that he will be taking a test to confirm or deny ADD.  This won't happen till 6 months or so (you know how long it takes.)

In the mean time, what am I to do?  My pediatrician, belive it or not, is not that helpful.  I got the current therapist from the school and I do have more names from the school. 

I know it's important to find the right fit, I was just wondering what other's experiences are.

Thanks for reading, if you made it this far.

 

Four. And I'm still not sure she's going to be helpful. But that's life. It is probably not that 90% are bad; it is more like the best ones are too full to add new patients and you have to pick through the rest to find one. Also, there is a shortage of mental health providers and many do not take insurance.My Pediatrician (whom I love) referred my to the in-house psy. About all he did was confirm the diagnoses and put her on meds. He was very stand-offish. I am a very outgoing person and I like communication. I told my Pediatrician that I did not find him effective. He then referred me to another Psy. So far so good. She is not as warm as I would like but she is firm and my daughter needs that. She has worked with us on the meds. If I don't like what is going on she listens.I don't know. I would say I am fairly satisfied. I hope you the best. It's not easy when trying to find a doctor that will actually listen to you. I hate getting the feeling that you are taking up their time. Have you ever felt that way? Like they are rushing for time. I know they are busy but my daughter deserves as much time as anyone else.

Callista - I feel badly for you. 

I definately have to find someone to replace the one I have because I just had a conversation with my husband (we talk on the phone to each other when DS is out) and he definately is not being helped and he is beginning to have other behaviours that aren't acceptable.

Ofcourse, the neuropyschological test will only confirm the ADHD diagnosis - or maybe refind it a bit.  In any event, my son needs help and it's so frustrating.

It is true about the good ones being busy.  There are waiting lists. I can't wait!

Since my son is only on a  504 not special ed, the school psychologist won't see him.

I found the right one, or ones actually the first time. DD is seen by a team of Psychiatrists at TX Childrens Hospital, and they are wonderful!

Well, I'm going to call the pediarician this a.m. and tell him I need a rec. for a psychologist.    A few years ago, before we suspected ADD and thought it was just some discipline problems, he gave us the names of social workers but the one we wanted wasn't on our insurance and then we spoke with one on the phone that made me feel like my son was a freak.   Needless to say, we never went.

Then, I got the name of a psychologist from my GP - again, we had no idea it was ADD.  She was very clinical, met with my son about 4 times, and promptly told us to get a second opinion because she thought it was aspergers syndrome.

My son hated her too.  Well, after many professional opinions - it's not aspergers but most definately anxiety and depression and probably ADHD inatentive or some form.

I can't understand why it is so hard to find mental health providers in a major metropolitan area that is known for its universities and hospitals.

Just venting a bit.  DS was happy that we are terminating our relationship with the current Dr. because he promplty announcecd, "I don't have any problems."

Well, this morning, he was a poster boy for anxiety  Oh well, no one said it would be easy.

I just called the pediatrcian.  He's on vacation but the nurse gave me the name of the same social worker place that he originally gave me.    She did say she would get me some names and call me back.  I have a friend in a family practice that treats kids with ADD.  She knows about my situation and I'll call her.

My dad says I shouldn't give up the current guy until he is replaced but feel that since this guy is ineffective and I've gone 11 times and only get 24 visits a year on insurance, I'd be wasting time and money. 

I'm so frustrated.

 

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I know that the advice is to see a psych for ADHD, but my ped has been so wonderful, and 'psychiatrist like'....that I have not felt the need.  She spends at least 45 minutes with Chase and I at each med check, asking both he and I how things are going, discussing any issues Chase has in school, listening to his long winded stories as patiently as anyone can.  I feel like she is counseling us as well as any psychiatrist could, and with the benefit of knowing me for 14 years and Chase for his whole life.  She treated us the same way before his dx....asking for his input as well as mine at visits...

When I hear of being shuttled in and out of a psych office in short order, just to get the script written, I feel that I have a very good thing going.....

 

I always knew that I loved my ped, but never knew what a gem she was until I began reading posts here on the board. 

I drive a little over an hour and pay at least a visit depending on how in depth it goes...my insurance has has no copay for doctors.  I could have a GP 5 miles away take over writing the prescriptions for his meds, and only pay -50 a visit, but I would not trade my ped for the world, nor would Chase....or Jake.  The visit takes missing a half day of school for Chase.  The good news is that next year, Chase gets out of school at 2:20, so if we schedule the appointments for late afternoon, he won't have to miss ANY school!  Yippee!!

chasesmom7939182.4208449074

We are only on our first Psychologist, but I don't feel she's really helping us too much.  She's very nice, DD likes her just fine and I do too, but she's not really doing anything to change our situation.  The neurologist (who referred us) said he thought it was a good idea to try a little therapy, but he admitted we were already doing most of the things a psychologist would suggest.  He thought maybe they would have a few new ideas for us to try, so give it a shot.  Basically, the psychologist has just reiterated to keep on doing what we've been doing....Eventually, things would "click & sink in" for DD.  She said if DD were a "Typical" child, we would have no problems, our parenting skills were good.  I said, "Well, thank you.  That's nice to know because I thought I was doing a pretty decent job all along (as far as rules, consequences, consistancy, etc.), but lately I have been questioning myself & my parenting skils.  BUT, DD isn't a typical child and my parenting isn't effective for her, so what do I do to effectively deal w/ the Atypical child that I have?"  She really hasn't been able to come up with any strategies we hadn't tried in the past.  They don't work.  DD (age 11; TS, ADHD, anger, rage, & sensory issues, as well as stronger than normal situational anxiety, and some OC symptoms) has NO REGARD to consequences.

Anyway, Psychologist went on maternity leave in mid-Dec/ and just returned last week.  We didn't see anyone during her absence.  Haven't had the opportunity to speak to DH about it (yet, I know what his view will be) but I don't think we will go back, or at least not regularly like we had been.  We were no worse off the 3 months she was on leave than we were before she left, because we weren't in a better place anyway the 7 months we did see her than we had been before our first visit.

If we feel the need to try more counseling, I think it will be time to move on to a new therapist. 

Good luck in your search!

Chasemom - you are very lucky.  I think that if my son ends up on meds, my pediatrician will be able to monitor him.  That is why he wants him tested for a proper diagnosis.  So far, we got the diagnosis from the current psychologist.  I do agree with it but my pediatrician is very cautious. 

Well, I called the testing facility and they are currently booking in July.  So, that isn't so bad.  I've finally got all the forms and I'll be mailing them out tomorrow.

Unfortunately, my son is dealing with anxiety, depression and ofcourse, the executive functioning  dissorders that may or may not be part of the ADD. He really needs professional help because his coping skills are lousy at best.

I have a feeling  he'll need some kind of anti anxiety meds. but, ofcourse, my son says "he doesn't have any problems."

 

Mamabear - That is exactly how I feel.  I am not in a better place.  Actually, all the parenting tips I've been using are from books I've read. 

If my son liked this therapist that would be one thing.  All this guy does is tell us my son is in denial and he can't be helped unless he admits he needs help.  Okay - I agree but his current method isn't working so try something else.

Chasesmom - I would do exactly the same thing you are doing if I found someone I loved.  I have no problem paying out of pocket if I find the right person.  It's good to know that there are people having positive results too.

I'm sorry for being so whiney today. I guess I'm just so frustrated.  I feel so helpless - I'm doing everything I can and am supposed to do.  I just want to be able to help my son.  I can deal with  personal frustrations and saddness and anger with him but I can't deal with knowing there is help for him somewhere and I can't find it.