Re: First therapy appointment and so proud of my son!

[Guest guest]

FANTASTIC!!! Looking forward to hearing more good news about your son!

First therapy appointment and so proud of my son!

Our son (8 years old, just diagnosed with OCD) had his first therapy appointment

today with the psychologist (PhD) we found who sees lots of OCD kids. He does

CBT with E/RP. We were there for the appointment too (my husband and I met with

the psychologist yesterday to go over background and the treatment plan and

really liked him). Preston was very nervous before it, but within 10 mins the

doctor had him completely relaxed. He's kind of a goofy, funny guy and Preston

REALLY liked him. He opened right up and was honest with him about all his OCD

behaviors. The doctor explained OCD and " false alarms " (worries) OCD sends his

brain telling him to do things, etc. Preston seemed to truly get it. The first

" homework " assignment he gave Preston was to eat something kind of sticky and

then wait at least 30 mins before washing his hands (Preston washes his hands an

average of about 50-70 times a day right now). Right after his appointment he

went ho me (my husband is a stay-at-home dad so he's with him all summer, which

is great) and told dad he wanted to do his homework. He ate a peach and then

waited an ENTIRE HOUR to wash his hands. My husband said he was so proud of

himself. I am SO PROUD of him too! I know its a baby step, but it feels huge

right now. Last night we spent 2 hours trying to put " clean " sheets on his bed.

Took 6 different sheets and about 5 complete meltdowns before getting him to

bed. And then he woke up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom,

touched something on accident he thought wasn't clean and we had another

completely meltdown for an hour while he was trying to " get clean. " I was

really down and exhausted waking up this morning. So a good first therapy

appointment and successful " homework " today is bringing everyone's spirits up!!

I am so hopeful that this therapy might actually work. I know we have a long

road, but right now I'm just holding on to small victories.

-Kim

[Guest guest]

That is awesome news!  I am curious which dr you ended up going to.

in WA

To:

Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 10:43 AM

Subject: First therapy appointment and so proud of my son!

 

Our son (8 years old, just diagnosed with OCD) had his first therapy appointment

today with the psychologist (PhD) we found who sees lots of OCD kids. He does

CBT with E/RP. We were there for the appointment too (my husband and I met with

the psychologist yesterday to go over background and the treatment plan and

really liked him). Preston was very nervous before it, but within 10 mins the

doctor had him completely relaxed. He's kind of a goofy, funny guy and Preston

REALLY liked him. He opened right up and was honest with him about all his OCD

behaviors. The doctor explained OCD and " false alarms " (worries) OCD sends his

brain telling him to do things, etc. Preston seemed to truly get it. The first

" homework " assignment he gave Preston was to eat something kind of sticky and

then wait at least 30 mins before washing his hands (Preston washes his hands an

average of about 50-70 times a day right now). Right after his appointment he

went home (my husband

is a stay-at-home dad so he's with him all summer, which is great) and told dad

he wanted to do his homework. He ate a peach and then waited an ENTIRE HOUR to

wash his hands. My husband said he was so proud of himself. I am SO PROUD of him

too! I know its a baby step, but it feels huge right now. Last night we spent 2

hours trying to put " clean " sheets on his bed. Took 6 different sheets and about

5 complete meltdowns before getting him to bed. And then he woke up in the

middle of the night to go to the bathroom, touched something on accident he

thought wasn't clean and we had another completely meltdown for an hour while he

was trying to " get clean. " I was really down and exhausted waking up this

morning. So a good first therapy appointment and successful " homework " today is

bringing everyone's spirits up!! I am so hopeful that this therapy might

actually work. I know we have a long road, but right now I'm just holding on to

small victories.

-Kim

[Guest guest]

Thank you! We are seeing Dr. Ian at Eastside Psychological Associates (in

Woodinville, WA). He is the therapist with the most experience with pediatric

OCD that we could find. The group was also highly recommended by our

pediatrician.

>

> That is awesome news!  I am curious which dr you ended up going to.

> in WA

>

>

> To:

> Sent: Tuesday, July 24, 2012 10:43 AM

> Subject: First therapy appointment and so proud of my son!

>

>

>  

> Our son (8 years old, just diagnosed with OCD) had his first therapy

appointment today with the psychologist (PhD) we found who sees lots of OCD

kids. He does CBT with E/RP. We were there for the appointment too (my husband

and I met with the psychologist yesterday to go over background and the

treatment plan and really liked him). Preston was very nervous before it, but

within 10 mins the doctor had him completely relaxed. He's kind of a goofy,

funny guy and Preston REALLY liked him. He opened right up and was honest with

him about all his OCD behaviors. The doctor explained OCD and " false alarms "

(worries) OCD sends his brain telling him to do things, etc. Preston seemed to

truly get it. The first " homework " assignment he gave Preston was to eat

something kind of sticky and then wait at least 30 mins before washing his hands

(Preston washes his hands an average of about 50-70 times a day right now).

Right after his appointment he went home (my husband

> is a stay-at-home dad so he's with him all summer, which is great) and told

dad he wanted to do his homework. He ate a peach and then waited an ENTIRE HOUR

to wash his hands. My husband said he was so proud of himself. I am SO PROUD of

him too! I know its a baby step, but it feels huge right now. Last night we

spent 2 hours trying to put " clean " sheets on his bed. Took 6 different sheets

and about 5 complete meltdowns before getting him to bed. And then he woke up in

the middle of the night to go to the bathroom, touched something on accident he

thought wasn't clean and we had another completely meltdown for an hour while he

was trying to " get clean. " I was really down and exhausted waking up this

morning. So a good first therapy appointment and successful " homework " today is

bringing everyone's spirits up!! I am so hopeful that this therapy might

actually work. I know we have a long road, but right now I'm just holding on to

small victories.

>

> -Kim

>

>

>

>

>

[Guest guest]

Incredibly fabulous! Go, Preston - one step at a time gets you to the top! wow,

we need lots more therapists like this one.

Rhonda

First therapy appointment and so proud of my son!

Our son (8 years old, just diagnosed with OCD) had his first therapy

appointment today with the psychologist (PhD) we found who sees lots of OCD

kids. He does CBT with E/RP. We were there for the appointment too (my husband

and I met with the psychologist yesterday to go over background and the

treatment plan and really liked him). Preston was very nervous before it, but

within 10 mins the doctor had him completely relaxed. He's kind of a goofy,

funny guy and Preston REALLY liked him. He opened right up and was honest with

him about all his OCD behaviors. The doctor explained OCD and " false alarms "

(worries) OCD sends his brain telling him to do things, etc. Preston seemed to

truly get it. The first " homework " assignment he gave Preston was to eat

something kind of sticky and then wait at least 30 mins before washing his hands

(Preston washes his hands an average of about 50-70 times a day right now).

Right after his appointment he went home (my husband is a stay-at-home dad so

he's with him all summer, which is great) and told dad he wanted to do his

homework. He ate a peach and then waited an ENTIRE HOUR to wash his hands. My

husband said he was so proud of himself. I am SO PROUD of him too! I know its a

baby step, but it feels huge right now. Last night we spent 2 hours trying to

put " clean " sheets on his bed. Took 6 different sheets and about 5 complete

meltdowns before getting him to bed. And then he woke up in the middle of the

night to go to the bathroom, touched something on accident he thought wasn't

clean and we had another completely meltdown for an hour while he was trying to

" get clean. " I was really down and exhausted waking up this morning. So a good

first therapy appointment and successful " homework " today is bringing everyone's

spirits up!! I am so hopeful that this therapy might actually work. I know we

have a long road, but right now I'm just holding on to small victories.

-Kim

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[Guest guest]

OMG, Go Preston!!! Hey, I thought 30 minutes might be too long for him to hold

off, but he did an HOUR!! I'm sure his liking the psychologist so much probably

helped a little, and sounds like the psych did a terrific job; you seem to have

found a winner for Preston!

Do keep us updated on Preston's OCD homework. Always good to hear how other

therapists proceed, some of the " homework " they assign to work on OCD, how they

work with kids, etc.

You all got a lot done for a first appointment!

So happy for you all!

>

> Our son (8 years old, just diagnosed with OCD) had his first therapy

appointment today with the psychologist (PhD) we found who sees lots of OCD

kids. He does CBT with E/RP. We were there for the appointment too (my husband

and I met with the psychologist yesterday to go over background and the

treatment plan and really liked him). Preston was very nervous before it, but

within 10 mins the doctor had him completely relaxed. He's kind of a goofy,

funny guy and Preston

[Guest guest]

OMG, Go Preston!!! Hey, I thought 30 minutes might be too long for him to hold

off, but he did an HOUR!! I'm sure his liking the psychologist so much probably

helped a little, and sounds like the psych did a terrific job; you seem to have

found a winner for Preston!

Do keep us updated on Preston's OCD homework. Always good to hear how other

therapists proceed, some of the " homework " they assign to work on OCD, how they

work with kids, etc.

You all got a lot done for a first appointment!

So happy for you all!

>

> Our son (8 years old, just diagnosed with OCD) had his first therapy

appointment today with the psychologist (PhD) we found who sees lots of OCD

kids. He does CBT with E/RP. We were there for the appointment too (my husband

and I met with the psychologist yesterday to go over background and the

treatment plan and really liked him). Preston was very nervous before it, but

within 10 mins the doctor had him completely relaxed. He's kind of a goofy,

funny guy and Preston

[Guest guest]

That is some GREAT Work and a VERY HARD first therapy assignment. He should be

very proud of himself. I wouldnt argue with success .

Did he spend the time not washing his hands focusing on the yuckiness of his

hands or was he distracting himself? He should be focusing on the " dirtiness " of

the hands and ranking his anxiety scores over time. You wand to finally wash

them when the anxiety about them being dirty drops to low or nothing. So now do

that same assignment DAILY or twice daily until it doesnt bother him any more at

all, or up the anxiety by making the thing in his hands be something more

" dirty " than messy food when he is good with the messy food.

When ERP is done well, and the person engages with it, it can be VERY effective.

[Guest guest]

That is some GREAT Work and a VERY HARD first therapy assignment. He should be

very proud of himself. I wouldnt argue with success .

Did he spend the time not washing his hands focusing on the yuckiness of his

hands or was he distracting himself? He should be focusing on the " dirtiness " of

the hands and ranking his anxiety scores over time. You wand to finally wash

them when the anxiety about them being dirty drops to low or nothing. So now do

that same assignment DAILY or twice daily until it doesnt bother him any more at

all, or up the anxiety by making the thing in his hands be something more

" dirty " than messy food when he is good with the messy food.

When ERP is done well, and the person engages with it, it can be VERY effective.