Behavior Therapy Center of Greater Washington

[Guest guest]

Has anyone had experience with the Behavior Therapy Center of Greater

Washington? Our 8-year-old daughter has had intermittent OCD-type

symptoms for several years, primarily excessive handwashing when

stressed/anxious. She has also been in therapy for nearly 2 years

with a social worker for inflexible rigid, at times explosive (ie,

tantrum) behavior at home; she has been a model student at school and

is very bright.

In the last couple of weeks, the handwashing has intensified, and she

becomes extremely agitated if we try to stop her. When we get her out

of the bathroom, she is able to talk about some of the stresses she is

facing: teacher on one-month leave shortly after the start of the

school year, increasing challenges and responsibilities of 3rd grade,

death of one of our beloved cats this summer, etc.

While we are planning to talk with her regular counselor, we are also

thinking that the current behavior may be beyond her area of

expertise. We did have our daughter assessed at the Behavior Therapy

Ctr at age 4, at which time the diagnosis was Generalized Anxiety

Disorder. I should mention that I, her mom, have diagnosed OCD, which

is manageable, has been worse lately, and expresses itself differently

than her washing symptoms. Her dad also has a diagnosis of

Generalized Anxiety Disorder.

At the moment, we are feeling a bit overwhelmed and would welcome any

constructive input.

Thanks,

and Lorin