Sorry another question re:camhs

teabag29

Well i'm guessing the education psychologist who saw my daughters senco teacher last week has given her a kick up the bum. The head of year has been telling me she is arranging a caff meeting since February and kept on saying she'd get onto it every time I mentioned it and suddenly today I got a call from school telling me to go in on friday to sign the papers to sort the caff meeting . I cant help thinking it's more than convenience that the ed.psychologist saw her last week and this call suddenly came today hehe.

I also rang camhs today to see how much longer I will be waiting for dd's appt and they have offered me an appt for 22nd June for triage assessment. I have a few questions if anyone can help me.

Firstly; they say I should bring my dd along to this appt but my understanding was that it was to get all the info from birth onwards about dd and problems I have with her? The thing is the doctor said I shouldn't be talking about her issues infront of her, particularly the talking to herself etc as she will think she's not normal if we make an issue of it. Also her father abused her when she was a child and we don't ever mention him so how can I explain all these things to camhs when dd is sat next to me, also I think she would be mortified if I told them she wets the bed and things infront of her.

Secondly, what happens after this appt? From what i've read they discuss the info I give them with their clinicians and see where to go from there is that right? and if so how long can I expect to wait before she has her next appt?

Finally I think they are looking at aspergers, adhd and conduct disorder as possible theories. Once the triage assessment has been done, how long is it likely to take to get a diagnosis, is it likely to take years or is it relatively strightforward now the ball is rolling?

LadyMorticia

Heya Teabag.

I'm not sure exactly how the appointment will go for you but when I was involved with CAMHs during my early teens I was bought along and half of the appointment was with me in the room to get to know me a bit and then the other half was just my foster carer on her own to discuss what were my problems.

So, just because you're daughter is being asked along, it doesn't mean that she'll be in the room all of the time.

HTH.

toomuchinfo

It's possible that you'll be talking to one person whilst another does some talking/observing your daughter. As it's a first appointment they'll play it by ear and will make another appointment to see you alone if necessary.

munchings-n-crunchings

I've talked about all my daughter's issues in front or her, and with her.
In doing this, everything is out in the open, and nothing is hidden.
We've not had abuse, but her father dispised her, and his parents treated her Autism like a dirty secret to be kept.

If CAMHS are going to help, then it's going to be far better to just get everything out.


By talking about things, it's not making an issue of it, it's a case of being factual. Ok, she talks to herself, and wets the bed, say it and move on. My daughter talks to herself, and she undersatands that she does it, stress making it worse. At the same time, she knows that other people don't talk to themselves, and she controls it. The same with bedwetting, when she gets stressed, particularly with school, it becomes worse.

You should talk things through with your daughter in advance of this initial appointment.
Ask her if there are things she would like to have help with from CAMHS, as this is for her benefit too. What would she like to gain from this? Involve her in the process. Keep this as a positive thing that will happen, and talks about the benefits that may result.

As for a diagnosis, that will really depend how how your local service works.
I wouldn't hang too much on the diagnosis. You still have the same child as you had before the diagnosis was given, and likewise school still have the same pupil.
As a parent, you think phew! now we know why they behave as they do, but often, it changes little else.

Regards
Munchie