Re: appropriate treatment for 4 1/2 year old with OCD

[Guest guest]

It was the same routine with our son when he started treatment, but he was 14

years old.

When you come back at the end of the session, do you discuss what they've worked

on while you were gone? Does she give you instructions on how to help her work

on something specific for the week?

Has your daughter ever been so an Occupational Therapist for her clothing

sensitivity? For some that has been a huge help.

What other problems is she having besides the clothing sensitivity?

BJ

>

> Hi,

>

> My daughter is 4 1/2 and has some pretty classic OCD-like behavior that comes

> and goes.  She tends to have issues with clothes being uncomfortable, worries,

> needing to know exactly what is happening, hoarding special things, and

similar

> things.  It started a little over a year ago and we had a pretty bad year.  I

> read the books with her (worry hill, brain gets stuck) and she really pulled

out

> of it.  About 3 months ago I lined up a therapist and we started to go, but of

> course that was when she was pulling out of it so for several weeks I was

going

> weekly and telling the therapist that we really weren't having issues.  I

> finally put the therapist on hold because it was a waste of time and money. 

Now

> the clothes thing is coming back and making my daughter pretty miserable so

> we're starting to go back.

>

> My question is really about how therapists should work with 4 year olds.  When

I

> interviewed this therapist she told me that parental involvement was key and I

> had to be involved to make it work.  That's what I want and I assumed that the

> therapist and my daughter and I would all be working together.  But...normally

> the therapist talks to me for a few minutes of the session, sends me to

> Starbucks, and then asks me to come back for the last 10 minutes so she can

tell

> me what they worked on.  My daughter seems to like this and always asks when

I'm

> going to leave, but I'm wondering if this is really the best way.  I'm sure

that

> no matter how good this therapist is, an hour a week with a 4  year old is not

> going to accomplish anything so I'd like her to work with us together so I can

> continue the work at home.  I'd like to know what experiences others have had

in

> therapy with such young kids.

>

> Thank you

>

>

[Guest guest]

My daughter had similar issues at a very young age,

it turned out she had Asperger Syndrome. Even though

a pediatric neurologist and many counselors diagnosised her with

OCD or anxiety over the years. It was not clear she had

AS until she was 9 years old. With AS the treatment

that works best is gradual exposures with positive

reinforcements for wanted behaviors, there are

many accomadations that need to be made too. And there

are often learning and sensory issues that need accomodations.

If your daughter does have AS, or a similar developmental

disorder than you want to be sensitive to her sensitivities.

Help her find comfortable clothes, minimize change,

rehearse any new exposures. Get her classified for

school services.

When a child is developing typically and at some

point you see a distinctive change in behavior

it is easier to see that the problem is OCD.

But when a child has issues from a very young age,

it is hard to separate out OCD from AS. OCD or anxiety

at a young age can and does impact emotional development,

social skills etc.

>

> Hi,

>

> My daughter is 4 1/2 and has some pretty classic OCD-like behavior that comes

> and goes.  She tends to have issues with clothes being uncomfortable, worries,

> needing to know exactly what is happening, hoarding special things, and

similar

> things.  It started a little over a year ago and we had a pretty bad year.  I

> read the books with her (worry hill, brain gets stuck) and she really pulled

out

> of it.  About 3 months ago I lined up a therapist and we started to go, but of

> course that was when she was pulling out of it so for several weeks I was

going

> weekly and telling the therapist that we really weren't having issues.  I

> finally put the therapist on hold because it was a waste of time and money. 

Now

> the clothes thing is coming back and making my daughter pretty miserable so

> we're starting to go back.

>

> My question is really about how therapists should work with 4 year olds.  When

I

> interviewed this therapist she told me that parental involvement was key and I

> had to be involved to make it work.  That's what I want and I assumed that the

> therapist and my daughter and I would all be working together.  But...normally

> the therapist talks to me for a few minutes of the session, sends me to

> Starbucks, and then asks me to come back for the last 10 minutes so she can

tell

> me what they worked on.  My daughter seems to like this and always asks when

I'm

> going to leave, but I'm wondering if this is really the best way.  I'm sure

that

> no matter how good this therapist is, an hour a week with a 4  year old is not

> going to accomplish anything so I'd like her to work with us together so I can

> continue the work at home.  I'd like to know what experiences others have had

in

> therapy with such young kids.

>

> Thank you

>

>

[Guest guest]

My child was 11 when we started therapy and it was done in a similar way. The

dr. spent some time with me and my child & some time with my child alone. The

dr. used to ask us together about current issues, then meet with my daughter and

plan what to work on and even do/visualize doing some exposures, then we'd meet

together to discuss the goals of the week and my part in working with my child

during the week. When my child reached accomplishments, the dr. used to reward

her by playing a game, giving her a prize or certificate, letting her pick

something fun to do, etc.

Ultimately, the child has to do the exposure, so some alone time with the

therapist helps set up that expectation. I'm sure the fine details of working

with children varies some depending on the child's age and what they can handle,

but the method you describe sounds like what we did as well (except that I

stayed in the waiting room). No Starbucks anywhere in sight of the office.

Dot

>

> Hi,

>

> My daughter is 4 1/2 and has some pretty classic OCD-like behavior that comes

> and goes.  She tends to have issues with clothes being uncomfortable, worries,

> needing to know exactly what is happening, hoarding special things, and

similar

> things.  It started a little over a year ago and we had a pretty bad year.  I

> read the books with her (worry hill, brain gets stuck) and she really pulled

out

> of it.  About 3 months ago I lined up a therapist and we started to go, but of

> course that was when she was pulling out of it so for several weeks I was

going

> weekly and telling the therapist that we really weren't having issues.  I

> finally put the therapist on hold because it was a waste of time and money. 

Now

> the clothes thing is coming back and making my daughter pretty miserable so

> we're starting to go back.

>

> My question is really about how therapists should work with 4 year olds.  When

I

> interviewed this therapist she told me that parental involvement was key and I

> had to be involved to make it work.  That's what I want and I assumed that the

> therapist and my daughter and I would all be working together.  But...normally

> the therapist talks to me for a few minutes of the session, sends me to

> Starbucks, and then asks me to come back for the last 10 minutes so she can

tell

> me what they worked on.  My daughter seems to like this and always asks when

I'm

> going to leave, but I'm wondering if this is really the best way.  I'm sure

that

> no matter how good this therapist is, an hour a week with a 4  year old is not

> going to accomplish anything so I'd like her to work with us together so I can

> continue the work at home.  I'd like to know what experiences others have had

in

> therapy with such young kids.

>

> Thank you

>

>

[Guest guest]

BJ wrote: When you come back at the end of the session, do you discuss what

they've worked on while you were gone? Does she give you instructions on how to

help her work on something specific for the week?

I was going to ask the same thing. It's great that your daughter enjoys her one

on one time with her therapist, but in my opinion the counselor needs to keep

you in the loop and actively involved.

What kind of therapy are they doing Is it play therapy or something else?

About the sensory issues (clothes bothering her) the book The Out of Sync Child

helped me tremendously with my DD was little.

Steph

17 y/o DD with OCD, anxiety/depression, Asperger's, and NVLD

[Guest guest]

What is a medication or thrapy that works on impulsivity?

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Re: appropriate treatment for 4 1/2 year old with OCD

It was the same routine with our son when he started treatment, but he was 14

years old.

When you come back at the end of the session, do you discuss what they've worked

on while you were gone? Does she give you instructions on how to help her work

on something specific for the week?

Has your daughter ever been so an Occupational Therapist for her clothing

sensitivity? For some that has been a huge help.

What other problems is she having besides the clothing sensitivity?

BJ

>

> Hi,

>

> My daughter is 4 1/2 and has some pretty classic OCD-like behavior that comes

> and goes.  She tends to have issues with clothes being uncomfortable, worries,

> needing to know exactly what is happening, hoarding special things, and

similar

> things.  It started a little over a year ago and we had a pretty bad year.  I

> read the books with her (worry hill, brain gets stuck) and she really pulled

out

> of it.  About 3 months ago I lined up a therapist and we started to go, but of

> course that was when she was pulling out of it so for several weeks I was

going

> weekly and telling the therapist that we really weren't having issues.  I

> finally put the therapist on hold because it was a waste of time and money. 

Now

> the clothes thing is coming back and making my daughter pretty miserable so

> we're starting to go back.

>

> My question is really about how therapists should work with 4 year olds.  When

I

> interviewed this therapist she told me that parental involvement was key and I

> had to be involved to make it work.  That's what I want and I assumed that the

> therapist and my daughter and I would all be working together.  But...normally

> the therapist talks to me for a few minutes of the session, sends me to

> Starbucks, and then asks me to come back for the last 10 minutes so she can

tell

> me what they worked on.  My daughter seems to like this and always asks when

I'm

> going to leave, but I'm wondering if this is really the best way.  I'm sure

that

> no matter how good this therapist is, an hour a week with a 4  year old is not

> going to accomplish anything so I'd like her to work with us together so I can

> continue the work at home.  I'd like to know what experiences others have had

in

> therapy with such young kids.

>

> Thank you

>

>

[Guest guest]

What is she being impulsive about?

Typically those with OCD are not impulsive. Their anxiety makes them so

cautious they can be the opposite.

BJ

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > My daughter is 4 1/2 and has some pretty classic OCD-like behavior that

comes

> > and goes.  She tends to have issues with clothes being uncomfortable,

worries,

> > needing to know exactly what is happening, hoarding special things, and

similar

> > things.  It started a little over a year ago and we had a pretty bad year. 

I

> > read the books with her (worry hill, brain gets stuck) and she really pulled

out

> > of it.  About 3 months ago I lined up a therapist and we started to go, but

of

> > course that was when she was pulling out of it so for several weeks I was

going

> > weekly and telling the therapist that we really weren't having issues.  I

> > finally put the therapist on hold because it was a waste of time and money. 

Now

> > the clothes thing is coming back and making my daughter pretty miserable so

> > we're starting to go back.

> >

> > My question is really about how therapists should work with 4 year olds. 

When I

> > interviewed this therapist she told me that parental involvement was key and

I

> > had to be involved to make it work.  That's what I want and I assumed that

the

> > therapist and my daughter and I would all be working together. 

But...normally

> > the therapist talks to me for a few minutes of the session, sends me to

> > Starbucks, and then asks me to come back for the last 10 minutes so she can

tell

> > me what they worked on.  My daughter seems to like this and always asks when

I'm

> > going to leave, but I'm wondering if this is really the best way.  I'm sure

that

> > no matter how good this therapist is, an hour a week with a 4  year old is

not

> > going to accomplish anything so I'd like her to work with us together so I

can

> > continue the work at home.  I'd like to know what experiences others have

had in

> > therapy with such young kids.

> >

> > Thank you

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

My son was dx at age 3- similar stuff from the time of birth then really

exploded. He is almost 15 now and doing well. Your daughter should be doing

CBT/ERP which is not really private intimate how are you feeling stuff. The

parents need to be actively involved in setting up DAILY exposures a couple

times a day. I think it is fine for her to have a little time alone wiht the

therapist, but I will say that at that age there really are not " privacy issues "

and I am wary of any therapist who uses that as an excuse. It is fine if the

therapist is just trying to observe them in their behaviors, but at that age,

the therapy needs to be guided by an adult ( at any age really). Whe had a

pretty good theapist ( but not an expert) at that age, and he had us leave the

first few sessions so he could play wiht him and observe his play, then once we

started therapy in ernest, we were there the whole time.

At age 13 we did some EXPERT therapy(out of state) and I was there the whole

time of therapy then doing daily exposures. Good luck with it. My advice is

seek expert therapy early because it works a lot better than mediocre therapy.

Expert therapy is hard to find in this age, but it is out there, and may even be

worth a few weeks of intensive outpatient therapy out of town or out of state

then returning to your home therapist with the knowlege of what it should look

like and how to do it.

[Guest guest]

He doesn't think things through,wants to ride a bike jumps on withput helmet

+just takes off,doesn't let anyone know when he leaves the house,park ,classroom

or party because what he wants to do overides all else.

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Re: appropriate treatment for 4 1/2 year old with OCD

What is she being impulsive about?

Typically those with OCD are not impulsive. Their anxiety makes them so

cautious they can be the opposite.

BJ

> >

> > Hi,

> >

> > My daughter is 4 1/2 and has some pretty classic OCD-like behavior that

comes

> > and goes.  She tends to have issues with clothes being uncomfortable,

worries,

> > needing to know exactly what is happening, hoarding special things, and

similar

> > things.  It started a little over a year ago and we had a pretty bad year. 

I

> > read the books with her (worry hill, brain gets stuck) and she really pulled

out

> > of it.  About 3 months ago I lined up a therapist and we started to go, but

of

> > course that was when she was pulling out of it so for several weeks I was

going

> > weekly and telling the therapist that we really weren't having issues.  I

> > finally put the therapist on hold because it was a waste of time and money. 

Now

> > the clothes thing is coming back and making my daughter pretty miserable so

> > we're starting to go back.

> >

> > My question is really about how therapists should work with 4 year olds. 

When I

> > interviewed this therapist she told me that parental involvement was key and

I

> > had to be involved to make it work.  That's what I want and I assumed that

the

> > therapist and my daughter and I would all be working together. 

But...normally

> > the therapist talks to me for a few minutes of the session, sends me to

> > Starbucks, and then asks me to come back for the last 10 minutes so she can

tell

> > me what they worked on.  My daughter seems to like this and always asks when

I'm

> > going to leave, but I'm wondering if this is really the best way.  I'm sure

that

> > no matter how good this therapist is, an hour a week with a 4  year old is

not

> > going to accomplish anything so I'd like her to work with us together so I

can

> > continue the work at home.  I'd like to know what experiences others have

had in

> > therapy with such young kids.

> >

> > Thank you

> >

> >

[Guest guest]

I think Risperdal helps with impulsiveness. Here's some info that talks about

that class of medication:

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Risperidone is an atypical antipsychotic drug that is

used for treating schizophrenia, bipolar mania and autism. Other atypical

antipsychotic drugs include Olanzapine (Zyprexa), Quetiapine (Seroquel),

Ziprasidone (Geodon), Aripiprazole (Abilify) and paliperidone (Invega). Atypical

antipsychotics differ from typical antipsychotics due to the lesser degree of

extrapyramidal (movement) side effects and constipation. Risperdal Consta is an

injectable, long-acting form of risperidone.

Hope this helps,

>

> What is a medication or thrapy that works on impulsivity?

> Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

>

>

[Guest guest]

That doesn't sound like OCD. How old is he?

BJ

>

> He doesn't think things through,wants to ride a bike jumps on withput helmet

+just takes off,doesn't let anyone know when he leaves the house,park ,classroom

or party because what he wants to do overides all else.

[Guest guest]

He had tics,repetetive behaviors + is on 10 mg prozac for 2 yers now. He is14,

could it also be adhd?

Sent from my Verizon Wireless BlackBerry

Re: appropriate treatment for 4 1/2 year old with OCD

That doesn't sound like OCD. How old is he?

BJ

>

> He doesn't think things through,wants to ride a bike jumps on withput helmet

+just takes off,doesn't let anyone know when he leaves the house,park ,classroom

or party because what he wants to do overides all else.

[Guest guest]

Possibly. Does he have a psychiatrist? Or a psychologist? So many different

things could be going on that it's best to get a professional opinion to get the

correct treatment.

BJ

> >

> > He doesn't think things through,wants to ride a bike jumps on withput helmet

+just takes off,doesn't let anyone know when he leaves the house,park ,classroom

or party because what he wants to do overides all else.

>

>

>

>

>

>

>