mikeys_mom
03-28-2012, 10:38 AM
I've posted before about the difficulties 7.5yo DS has been having this year in grade 2. The psychologist at the school is in the process of completing the psycho-educational assessment and we are hoping to get some answers soon. I'm still not 100% sure how the whole process of diagnosis and treatment works but our appointment with the psychiatrist is not until late June. We are on a waiting list for any cancellations but I'm not counting on that.
In terms of his functioning in class and with schoolwork, he is managing ok for now. He's very bright (possibly gifted) and his teachers have been really helpful and accomodating during the assessment process. The big issue that is concerning us right now is socially. He is having a lot of trouble navigating socially in school. The other kids have now caught onto the fact that they can really easily rile him up and get a reaction and are playing into that all the time. The school is really doing their best to help him out but he is very resistant to make any changes. He is always telling me and the teachers that he has no friends and the other kids all hate him and are ganging up on him. I know that this isn't true but the fact that he perceives it this way is concerning.
He comes home everyday with a new story about different kids doing different things to bother him. These are often typical age-appropriate things that the other kids are doing and most kids would just shrug it off or walk away but he can't seem to do that. Also, he will come to the teachers right after recess and announce out loud who was bothering him, etc... The teachers tell him that it's fine to come and talk with them but he needs to do it privately yet he still doesn't get it.
The guidance counsellor at the school has been working with him to try and give him some strategies to use but so far we really haven't seen any significant changes. He often goes to her office just to calm down or chill out after a rough social interaction. She contacted me that she is concerned about the fact that he seems so troubled by everything going on. After working with him for several months now she says that he's really a very sweet child and is worried that he is always sad and upset in school. Since the appointment with the psychiatrist isn't until June, she suggested we try some private therapy options. We are in Canada so most healthcare options are covered through the provincial health plan. We have additional private insurance through DH's office but so far it looks like the coverage for this type of therapy is minimal.
This is the website of the place she suggested
http://www.blue-balloon.com/
I spoke to them and they said that they will do an initial assessment and then recommend any additional therapies they think would be beneficial. From my initial conversation with the intake person, sounds like they push music therapy a lot.
I so want to help DS as much as possible and get my happy child back but I also don't want to start paying out tons of money for something that may not be helpful. I'm finding it so difficult navigating through this process and trying to figure out the best route to go. Do you think it would be worthwhile to go for an initial assessment at a place like this or do we just try and muddle through and give DS lots of love and support at home until the appointment in June?
In terms of his functioning in class and with schoolwork, he is managing ok for now. He's very bright (possibly gifted) and his teachers have been really helpful and accomodating during the assessment process. The big issue that is concerning us right now is socially. He is having a lot of trouble navigating socially in school. The other kids have now caught onto the fact that they can really easily rile him up and get a reaction and are playing into that all the time. The school is really doing their best to help him out but he is very resistant to make any changes. He is always telling me and the teachers that he has no friends and the other kids all hate him and are ganging up on him. I know that this isn't true but the fact that he perceives it this way is concerning.
He comes home everyday with a new story about different kids doing different things to bother him. These are often typical age-appropriate things that the other kids are doing and most kids would just shrug it off or walk away but he can't seem to do that. Also, he will come to the teachers right after recess and announce out loud who was bothering him, etc... The teachers tell him that it's fine to come and talk with them but he needs to do it privately yet he still doesn't get it.
The guidance counsellor at the school has been working with him to try and give him some strategies to use but so far we really haven't seen any significant changes. He often goes to her office just to calm down or chill out after a rough social interaction. She contacted me that she is concerned about the fact that he seems so troubled by everything going on. After working with him for several months now she says that he's really a very sweet child and is worried that he is always sad and upset in school. Since the appointment with the psychiatrist isn't until June, she suggested we try some private therapy options. We are in Canada so most healthcare options are covered through the provincial health plan. We have additional private insurance through DH's office but so far it looks like the coverage for this type of therapy is minimal.
This is the website of the place she suggested
http://www.blue-balloon.com/
I spoke to them and they said that they will do an initial assessment and then recommend any additional therapies they think would be beneficial. From my initial conversation with the intake person, sounds like they push music therapy a lot.
I so want to help DS as much as possible and get my happy child back but I also don't want to start paying out tons of money for something that may not be helpful. I'm finding it so difficult navigating through this process and trying to figure out the best route to go. Do you think it would be worthwhile to go for an initial assessment at a place like this or do we just try and muddle through and give DS lots of love and support at home until the appointment in June?