Any experience with a behavior specialist?

[JTsMom]

Therapy isn't doing a darn thing for us behavior-wise. Neither is GFCF. I've tried every parenting and behavior modification technique I've ever heard of outside of physical discipline. It's been a rough week.

[HIU8]

We are just starting to see someone at KKI now. We have only had 2 visits so far (initial and some testing). I go back next week to find out what they think as far as therapy is concerned. So, no real experience yet, but I'm looking forward to it helping DS (please please please).

[Uno-Mom]

I am one! And I'm married to one. (My poor, poor daughter doesn't have a chance of growing up "normal." )

Feel free to PM me if you feel like it. There are some s/sx of good vs goofy BSes.

Edited to add: just want to clarify, I didn't mean PM me so I could nose into your private family challenges ... I meant PM me if you'd like to hear my opinions re what to look for, what to demand and expect, what methodology would separate a good consultant from a not-so-good one. For example, the way they interact with you the parent ... and, what kinds of things they should be asking if they're doing a decent assessment.

[Pepper]

IM limited experience, it can be tricly finding someone who is willing to work with really young kids. We are on a waitlist to get a developmental eval for DS1 who is 5 yo. In the meanwhile, we've met with a cognitive behavioral therapist a couple of times but he says that he generally works with the parents, rather than the child directly...I like him but it's nigh impossible to get a babysitter during the day for both kids, so we havne't been back.

OTOH we also have a "parent trainer" from DS1's preschool who comes to our house every other week. She's not a CBT, I think her background is more in family therapy (I say I think b/c she's from Peru and sometimes slips into Spanish when we're talking so I'm not always sure I got it right!). Previously she was with our local Early Intervention program though DS1 did not have behavioral services then.

Anyway, it has been very helpful to work with the parent trainer. I also had read lots of books, tried lots of parenting "techniques" and was very frustrated at how nothing seemed to work. The parent trainer comes in and basically watches DS1 interact with me and DS2, then makes recommendations about how to respond to his behaviors (I often start a session by describing a particular problem that we've been having lately). SO many times, when she asks how i respond to something I tell her I did X based on all this stuff I'd read, and then she tells my why that won't work for my particular child. I don't always agree with her and sometimes we butt heads a bit over things but for the most part, she's been very very helpful. DS1 is doing much better overall even though he still has a long way to go.

HTH

[JTsMom]

Thanks for sharing guys. Uno-Mom, I will definitely PM you. Thanks!

[Gena]

We just hired a behavior specialist to help with DS's behavior in his afterschool daycare setting. He has been having a lot of non-compliant behaviors there including elopement/wandering away (see other thread). He is in danger of being asked to leave the daycare.

The specialist we hired is a Board Certified ABA therapist, but is trained in other techniques as well. She will observe DS in the setting, develop a behavior plan, train the daycare staff, and do follow-up as needed.

I'm really hoping this works, because we cannot afford to have DS expelled from daycare.