As you may remember, we brought difficult child to a new psychiatrist for "psychometric testing"...and one of the first things the doctor recommended was to try a behavior chart.
We soon discovered that the "psychiatrist' is not actually a psychiatrist. Rather, she has spent a career as a Social Worker working with troubled kids in RTCs and Foster Homes, and now works at the University training therapists and counselors to work effectively with difficult children and their families. Wasn't sure what to make of that...
I was quite disappointed to have to use a "Behavior Chart"...and you may remember that the chart I devised was at a very elementary school level. Well, it's been almost six weeks and difficult child is STILL unable to complete even half of the goals on the chart. Her success rate varies between 35% and 45% on very basic tasks.
However, based upon difficult child's difficulty with the chart AND her negative interactions with the family AND her behavioral history--the doctor feels that what we are dealing with is an Attachment Disorder. She further explained that it seems as if difficult child's development has been arrested somewhere, and that's why in many ways, difficult child's behaviors, reactions and responses are still at almost a toddler level.
This is so different from what other psychiatrists and tdocs have been telling us over the years.
I wonder if we are finally on the road to "figuring out" our daughter....?
I am beginning to feel a bit hopeful...
--DaisyFace
We soon discovered that the "psychiatrist' is not actually a psychiatrist. Rather, she has spent a career as a Social Worker working with troubled kids in RTCs and Foster Homes, and now works at the University training therapists and counselors to work effectively with difficult children and their families. Wasn't sure what to make of that...
I was quite disappointed to have to use a "Behavior Chart"...and you may remember that the chart I devised was at a very elementary school level. Well, it's been almost six weeks and difficult child is STILL unable to complete even half of the goals on the chart. Her success rate varies between 35% and 45% on very basic tasks.
However, based upon difficult child's difficulty with the chart AND her negative interactions with the family AND her behavioral history--the doctor feels that what we are dealing with is an Attachment Disorder. She further explained that it seems as if difficult child's development has been arrested somewhere, and that's why in many ways, difficult child's behaviors, reactions and responses are still at almost a toddler level.
This is so different from what other psychiatrists and tdocs have been telling us over the years.
I wonder if we are finally on the road to "figuring out" our daughter....?
I am beginning to feel a bit hopeful...
--DaisyFace