rachaels_apocalypse
Member
Hola mi amigos!
So, my question......
(Post edited - better??? )
I FINALLY, after 3 years of searching, found a therapist who seems to be qualified to work with my 6 year old daughter, Stella!!
Yaaayyyy!!!
She’s not a diagnostician — bummer!! But, things are bad and getting worse. Now we have serious morning anxiety & school aversion, on top of all else.
—- I have tons of experience with counseling & counselors. I’ve been the facilitator for groups and have counseled individuals and couples throughout my career.
—- I have zero experience with this. So TY for any & all insight!!
—- Ok, so new therapist (LCSW), “Jane,” said she understands our needs - being up on the current diagnostic criteria for autistic women and girls, and she’s very familiar with autistic girls in general. She also works with autistic people of all ages. Great!
So — our appointments so far.
—- She has a cute medium sized dog.
—- On 1 table is small basket with fidget toys, and also tins of assorted slimes (mostly dried out).
—- I sit in my chair. Jane sits in her chair.
—- Stella and Dog run around room. Under chairs, roll on floor, cuddle, play, crazy, silly.
—- Last appt I pointed out Dog is not helping and Jane held him most of the appt.
—- When not actively playing with Dog, or if Dog is being held away, Stella is busy crawling under and over chairs. Picks up & puts down toys. Tries to get slimes out. —- Sometimes asks Jane for help with slime. They pick at it. She’ll hang out under Jane’s chair for a bit, before being off again.
—- If I try to hold her, she’ll squirm & squirm to break free. (She often enjoys my lap. Maybe freedom to run rampant around a room unchecked?? Yk?)
—- Soooooo ———— all through this MOVEMENT that Stella is doing, Jane is shooting casual questions at her here & there, while she and I chat.
“So Stella, what is your favorite thing to do at school?”
“...like the least?”
“What’s the worst part about school?”
“How can you tell when mom is angry?”
“You don’t like to answer questions do you??”
Well, clearly she does not!?!
(She doesn’t like ANYONE asking her direct questions, not even me.)
—- Jane will ask Stell a question. Will ask her same question 4 times. Finally I pipe up and I’m like: “Jane is talking to you, blah blah blah....” grrrrrr
—- Then, the 1st appt Jane saw Stella gazing into bowl of Jolly Ranchers sitting on table. (Candy on table with kids coming in? THAT confused me. Also that kinda HARD candy?? Odd, at least I thought??)
So Jane “trades” Stell 5 answers to questions for 1 piece of candy.
I was like —- hmmmmm.......
—- All Jane does is sit in her chair, Stella under it. Stella ignoring her mostly. Until she “has to” respond. (But you know Stella hears EVERYTHING. ) Until it’s time to go.
—- And thinking on it, the only “technique” I’ve seen Jane use was the candy bribe. And that was off the cuff.
—- There’s prob more. But you got the picture.
Oh! Remember she’s a LCSW. And not ABA or BI or anything like that.
Thoughts....... ???????
THANK YOU!!
Rachael
So, my question......
(Post edited - better??? )
I FINALLY, after 3 years of searching, found a therapist who seems to be qualified to work with my 6 year old daughter, Stella!!
Yaaayyyy!!!
She’s not a diagnostician — bummer!! But, things are bad and getting worse. Now we have serious morning anxiety & school aversion, on top of all else.
—- I have tons of experience with counseling & counselors. I’ve been the facilitator for groups and have counseled individuals and couples throughout my career.
—- I have zero experience with this. So TY for any & all insight!!
—- Ok, so new therapist (LCSW), “Jane,” said she understands our needs - being up on the current diagnostic criteria for autistic women and girls, and she’s very familiar with autistic girls in general. She also works with autistic people of all ages. Great!
So — our appointments so far.
—- She has a cute medium sized dog.
—- On 1 table is small basket with fidget toys, and also tins of assorted slimes (mostly dried out).
—- I sit in my chair. Jane sits in her chair.
—- Stella and Dog run around room. Under chairs, roll on floor, cuddle, play, crazy, silly.
—- Last appt I pointed out Dog is not helping and Jane held him most of the appt.
—- When not actively playing with Dog, or if Dog is being held away, Stella is busy crawling under and over chairs. Picks up & puts down toys. Tries to get slimes out. —- Sometimes asks Jane for help with slime. They pick at it. She’ll hang out under Jane’s chair for a bit, before being off again.
—- If I try to hold her, she’ll squirm & squirm to break free. (She often enjoys my lap. Maybe freedom to run rampant around a room unchecked?? Yk?)
—- Soooooo ———— all through this MOVEMENT that Stella is doing, Jane is shooting casual questions at her here & there, while she and I chat.
“So Stella, what is your favorite thing to do at school?”
“...like the least?”
“What’s the worst part about school?”
“How can you tell when mom is angry?”
“You don’t like to answer questions do you??”
Well, clearly she does not!?!
(She doesn’t like ANYONE asking her direct questions, not even me.)
—- Jane will ask Stell a question. Will ask her same question 4 times. Finally I pipe up and I’m like: “Jane is talking to you, blah blah blah....” grrrrrr
—- Then, the 1st appt Jane saw Stella gazing into bowl of Jolly Ranchers sitting on table. (Candy on table with kids coming in? THAT confused me. Also that kinda HARD candy?? Odd, at least I thought??)
So Jane “trades” Stell 5 answers to questions for 1 piece of candy.
I was like —- hmmmmm.......
—- All Jane does is sit in her chair, Stella under it. Stella ignoring her mostly. Until she “has to” respond. (But you know Stella hears EVERYTHING. ) Until it’s time to go.
—- And thinking on it, the only “technique” I’ve seen Jane use was the candy bribe. And that was off the cuff.
—- There’s prob more. But you got the picture.
Oh! Remember she’s a LCSW. And not ABA or BI or anything like that.
Thoughts....... ???????
THANK YOU!!
Rachael
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