a therapist/counselor for me

[Anonymous]

We are in the early stages of identifying attention issues w/DD (age 7). Her school is conducting an evaluation for an IEP and then, depending on the outcome/recommendations/etc. we will go back to the pediatrician for recommendations about further evaluations. We've been told by teachers & pediatrician for almost a year now that she has issues with attention, is easily distracted, sometimes withdrawn (as in disengaged, not as in depressed), etc.

At home she can be a little wound up sometimes and she's one of those kids who has to be reminded a million times to get their coat on, find their shoes, etc. She sometimes has very emotional meltdowns when she gets frustrated and she can get very vehement about hating school, hating reading (which she's struggling with), etc.

I would really like to find someone that I can go talk with to deal with my own reactions/emotions/etc. Preferably someone who can help me understand my DD better and how to be a good parent to her. So it's mostly about me, really, but in the context of having a child who's a little challenging.

Suggestions for a counselor or therapist? Ideally in DC - Dupont Circle or on Metro so that I can go during the work week (lunch hour). Otherwise, NoVA.

[Anonymous]

What part of NOVA and are there providers listed on your insurance you might like to consider 1st?

[Anonymous]

OP, I'm in the boat. Don't have a rec, just words of encouragement. Hang in there.

[Anonymous]

Arlington.

I plan to call my EAP but am not expecting much from them. My insurance is CareFirst.

[Anonymous]

I don't have someone to recommend. But I sympathize. I recommend you find someone who is knowledgeable about needs such as your DD's. It is helpful also to find someone who can help with some behavior planning, e.g. give ideas for how to motivate your DD to do tasks that she resists or tasks that she has a hard time focusing on. We have a CBT therapist who helps us with our own reactions as well and she encourages liberal use of motivators/reinforcers/rewards to help overcome the weakness in the motivation centers of the brain that many kids such as your daughters have. Mindfulness meditation can be very helpful in slowing down your own reactivity, noticing your own reactions better before acting on them, finding methods of self-calming, etc. Some therapists these days use a mindfulness approach in their practice so you might look for that, but I think it's essential that they know something about your daughters profile.

[Anonymous]

Try the women's center, in dc and Vienna.

[Anonymous]

Thx PP's - any other suggestions, please? (this is a bump, I guess. )

[Anonymous]

Harriet Dolinsky in Reston, VA

[Anonymous]

Raising Your Challenging Child classes by Dr. Shapiro helped my relationship with my son A LOT. It use to be quite a stressful and often angry relationship. I gotta say, the strategies presented just made a world of difference.

Sometimes its in Rockville, MD sometimes its in DC.

I'm in NoVA, but it was worth the hike.

http://www.raisingyourchallengingchild.com/

[Anonymous]

The therapists here are great:

http://www.ImagoCenterDC.com