Do you trust your DC's therapists?

[Anonymous]

Hi, Do you watch your DC's therapy sessions or sit in the waiting room? I normally sit in the waiting room and read/work. This weekend, I wanted to see how my DD behaves inside. I was looking through the window from waiting room into the Therapy room and DD is standing and playing by herself. Therapist is not even close to her and doing their own work/adjusting materials. This happened atleast 25min out of 30 min session. I even saw Therapist at the end of the session going to my DD and holding her hand and bringing her to waiting room and I pretended reading a book. Then Therapist mentioned we did this, we did that, she did so well, she didn't do this.. I didn't say a single word as I am controlling myself as I know the truth and don't want to talk before other parents. Today, I emailed them saying I want to terminate the services. Even last few sessions were bad(gave benefit of doubt) but the last one is the worst. I leave her with ST/OT all the time while I sit in the waiting room/car. For some rooms, there is not even a window to watch. Most of the things we pay from our pockets, as insurance coverage is not great. Now, I am in a position whether to trust other therapists or not. I just believed what they say/write in their reports at the end of each session. DD has very limited verbal(ASD). Any advice?

[Anonymous]

Wow...that is shocking. What kind of therapy is this? I do accompany my child, not because I don't trust the therapist but because her developmental level is pretty low and she's not ambulatory.

[Anonymous]

Oh wow. Please tell us what therapy group that is, so that other parents are aware.

My DS has social skills and speech. We stay outside the door but we can hear everything they are doing so I know when therapists are sending us reports, they are not lying.

[Anonymous]

No, that is not normal. We do a mix of I am in there and he goes alone. I would ask for my money back given no services were provided. For the ones that I am not there, there is either a window or I can hear them playing.

[Anonymous]

Please speak up and say something, if not for yourself and your wallet, then for your child. Your child deserves the help. You should have called the therapist out, on the spot. Moving forward, only go to a therapist where you are able to sit in, or watch through a window. Listening through the door wouldnt even be good enough for me and I am not a controlling parent at all.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for all your responses. I was shocked on how to respond at that time. It happened at a PT, Falls Church.
OT, I go with her to the room in Broad St, Falls Church. ST mentioned she prefers that parents wait in the waiting room. But based on parent reviews here about CSL, Arlington, I just trust them and wait.
Our ABA sessions happen in a open living room, so I watch it. Now, with this experience I am worried about what happens in PAC. I just wish my DD can indicate.
Thank you all and from now on, will try to sit during the sessions.

[Anonymous]

Wow. I'd be furious. Spitting fire. That is completely unacceptable and I would absolutely demand reimbursement. I would also tell everyone I know what had happened. I'm irate on behalf of you and your child.

I'm in the room for both speech and OT. My child is very young and a bit clingy and it also helps me with strategy and activities. All of the rooms have mirrored windows in the doors, so kids can be observed.

[Anonymous]

I attend both OT and ST sessions with my son, two of each weekly. A lot of other parents do not, and I'm wary of being seen as the hyper helicopter mom wh can't separate. My son is 2.5 and definitely would not have gone in there without me in the beginning. Now, six months later, maybe so.

But I like being in there. How can I continue the work at home if I don't know what they are doing and where my sons strengths and weaknesses are.

And of course, I feel like me being there is important just to remind all staff that parents are around and professional should always be shown. That being said, I've never had any issues. All staff seem great, even those who are working with kids sans parents are engaged and working.

[Anonymous]

One adult was always in the room or close by (for services at home) when they received services through EI. Now that they are older (5) they receive ST through the school district so we don't attend that, but they give us a full report on what they did that day.

One of us attends Floortime sessions. The other therapy session(s) they each attend individually while the adult waits in the waiting room. We've never worried about what does or doesn't go on b/c the kids share what they did and at least one often has something to show for it. We always sat in the waiting room for OT and private ST when we received those services, but we trusted the ST because we knew her personally. We trusted the OT as well and she had a great reputation, but ultimately it was no longer the right fit.

I'm sorry you had such a negative experience with that therapist. I will say that I've worked with quite a few therapists, all of whom were wonderful and interactive. Your unfortunate situation sounds unusual for someone working as a pediatric therapist. Personally I would address the concern with the director/coordinator of the clinic (and would have terminated services as you did).

[Anonymous]

Please tell me this was not a practice that begins with the initials GB? If so I may have to pay closer attention.

I found it easy to find good STs than say OTs. Do I think they were all perfect? No. Have they tried to get away with only giving me a 40 minute session when we paid for 50 or spending the last 15 minutes doing progress notes when we were told it would be after we left? Yes. If the therapist is great, I let it go, but what you described is much worse.

My pet peeve when they try to move out of the domain they are trained for. The best ST we know for actual speech therapy sometimes she sits and speculates about why DS had a bad day. It is usually a day when she was running 15-30 minutes late or she cancelled the previous session at the last minute or she seems really stressed out. We already know our son has autism and so does she. She knows he likes routine. He also catches other people's mood. I finally had to speak up and tell her my theory since she had no problem playing armchair psychologist and OT. Sure enough he did much better when she started on time and stayed calm even if she was stressed. Go figure.

I would not trust any therapist without peeking in some and listening at the beginning. Trust is built over time, it's not something to give at the 1st session even if the person has a good reputation.

[Anonymous]

DS goes to Building Blocks in Falls Church (also Broad St). Are you talking about this place???

[Anonymous]

Look, you need to let these other parents know which therapy group this is so that NO ONE uses their services. This is complete and absolute professional malpractice!!! Just because someoe is an OT or a PT or SLP does not mean that they will do their job, as I have experienced the lazy OTs in particular, who are out there. You really have to monitor what they do, ask questions, get "homework" so that you can work on things at home to carry over to the next session. I have been that sole parent in the waiting room, or right by the door, listening or watching (to the extent that I could) what they were working on with my child. I've seen so many times how kids were carted around with their nannies who dropped their kids off at the therapist's office and then returned seconds before the session was over. They did not get any feedback, ask any questions, or do any follow up with the therapist. Now, perhaps the parents were getting updated later in the date or via an email, etc. but I doubt it. They would charge so much extra for that. My experience has taught me to be very vigilante of entrusting any therapist with my SN child b/c they are all so different. Bad experiences with Leaps and Bounds in DC and with Lynn Israel's group in DC. They squeeze too many kids into a room or a session and they get lazy and don't always spend the time with your child that they should be spending.

[Anonymous]

I am not the OP. But I know her. She is not talking about Building Blocks or Good Beginings.
It is a physical therapy in Falls Church. But I suggest once in a while, parents to go into Therapy Room with their kids with OT practice on W.Broad St.
I am not happy there and waste of precious time/money and I discontinued.