Is it weird for a speech therapist to ask to meet alone with my 9-year-old right after he begins treatment?

[Anonymous]

OP, are you working on a computer or otherwise being a distraction while you are present? That could be a reason why they want privacy.

However in this day and age of abuse incidents and claims, I understand your concern. I'd be direct with the SLP about why you'd like to be in the room and then decide from there.

If the SLP is highly regarded, consider the trade off for the request.

[Anonymous]

Thanks, everyone. I'm truly shocked that there's a large contingent of parents who just sit in the waiting room. I just don't think one gets good "bang for the buck" that way.

I don't know this speech therapist well, she's not highly regarded or anything like that. I am presently assessing whether she's a good fit for my kid and worth the precious after school time.

I also learn a lot from the good therapists about how to implement solid practices at home. It's been absolutely invaluable, and among 8 or so therapists we worked with over the years, this is the first time I was asked to sit out. I found it strange, at least in my experience.

But parents, honestly, some therapists are sort of shitty. They just are. You don't know that unless you sit in. And it's near impossible to just "figure out" whether speech is improving on the side.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. I'm truly shocked that there's a large contingent of parents who just sit in the waiting room. I just don't think one gets good "bang for the buck" that way.

I don't know this speech therapist well, she's not highly regarded or anything like that. I am presently assessing whether she's a good fit for my kid and worth the precious after school time.

I also learn a lot from the good therapists about how to implement solid practices at home. It's been absolutely invaluable, and among 8 or so therapists we worked with over the years, this is the first time I was asked to sit out. I found it strange, at least in my experience.

But parents, honestly, some therapists are sort of shitty. They just are. You don't know that unless you sit in. And it's near impossible to just "figure out" whether speech is improving on the side.

Can you get recommendations? My kids have had 2 speech therapists over 9 years (one moved away) bc they came highly recommended by people we trust and they were both amazing. Going through 8 speech therapists is a lot!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. I'm truly shocked that there's a large contingent of parents who just sit in the waiting room. I just don't think one gets good "bang for the buck" that way.

I don't know this speech therapist well, she's not highly regarded or anything like that. I am presently assessing whether she's a good fit for my kid and worth the precious after school time.

I also learn a lot from the good therapists about how to implement solid practices at home. It's been absolutely invaluable, and among 8 or so therapists we worked with over the years, this is the first time I was asked to sit out. I found it strange, at least in my experience.

But parents, honestly, some therapists are sort of shitty. They just are. You don't know that unless you sit in. And it's near impossible to just "figure out" whether speech is improving on the side.

You sound like you might be the reason your child needs so many therapists, OP. I’d want to see if the child behaves differently outside of your presence.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. I'm truly shocked that there's a large contingent of parents who just sit in the waiting room. I just don't think one gets good "bang for the buck" that way.

I don't know this speech therapist well, she's not highly regarded or anything like that. I am presently assessing whether she's a good fit for my kid and worth the precious after school time.

I also learn a lot from the good therapists about how to implement solid practices at home. It's been absolutely invaluable, and among 8 or so therapists we worked with over the years, this is the first time I was asked to sit out. I found it strange, at least in my experience.

But parents, honestly, some therapists are sort of shitty. They just are. You don't know that unless you sit in. And it's near impossible to just "figure out" whether speech is improving on the side.

Can you get recommendations? My kids have had 2 speech therapists over 9 years (one moved away) bc they came highly recommended by people we trust and they were both amazing. Going through 8 speech therapists is a lot!

We went through several before finding the right fit.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. I'm truly shocked that there's a large contingent of parents who just sit in the waiting room. I just don't think one gets good "bang for the buck" that way.

I don't know this speech therapist well, she's not highly regarded or anything like that. I am presently assessing whether she's a good fit for my kid and worth the precious after school time.

I also learn a lot from the good therapists about how to implement solid practices at home. It's been absolutely invaluable, and among 8 or so therapists we worked with over the years, this is the first time I was asked to sit out. I found it strange, at least in my experience.

But parents, honestly, some therapists are sort of shitty. They just are. You don't know that unless you sit in. And it's near impossible to just "figure out" whether speech is improving on the side.

From your repetitive posts it’s pretty obvious why the therapist asked you to leave.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. I'm truly shocked that there's a large contingent of parents who just sit in the waiting room. I just don't think one gets good "bang for the buck" that way.

I don't know this speech therapist well, she's not highly regarded or anything like that. I am presently assessing whether she's a good fit for my kid and worth the precious after school time.

I also learn a lot from the good therapists about how to implement solid practices at home. It's been absolutely invaluable, and among 8 or so therapists we worked with over the years, this is the first time I was asked to sit out. I found it strange, at least in my experience.

But parents, honestly, some therapists are sort of shitty. They just are. You don't know that unless you sit in. And it's near impossible to just "figure out" whether speech is improving on the side.

Your question is about whether it’s weird. Obviously people don’t think it’s weird. Why are you arguing with everyone? Do what you want; no one cares. They don’t think it’s weird to allow the therapy to be between child and therapist. You are free to think otherwise; just find therapists who will accommodate you.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. I'm truly shocked that there's a large contingent of parents who just sit in the waiting room. I just don't think one gets good "bang for the buck" that way.

I don't know this speech therapist well, she's not highly regarded or anything like that. I am presently assessing whether she's a good fit for my kid and worth the precious after school time.

I also learn a lot from the good therapists about how to implement solid practices at home. It's been absolutely invaluable, and among 8 or so therapists we worked with over the years, this is the first time I was asked to sit out. I found it strange, at least in my experience.

But parents, honestly, some therapists are sort of shitty. They just are. You don't know that unless you sit in. And it's near impossible to just "figure out" whether speech is improving on the side.

You sound like you might be the reason your child needs so many therapists, OP. I’d want to see if the child behaves differently outside of your presence.

Bingo.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. I'm truly shocked that there's a large contingent of parents who just sit in the waiting room. I just don't think one gets good "bang for the buck" that way.

I don't know this speech therapist well, she's not highly regarded or anything like that. I am presently assessing whether she's a good fit for my kid and worth the precious after school time.

I also learn a lot from the good therapists about how to implement solid practices at home. It's been absolutely invaluable, and among 8 or so therapists we worked with over the years, this is the first time I was asked to sit out. I found it strange, at least in my experience.

But parents, honestly, some therapists are sort of shitty. They just are. You don't know that unless you sit in. And it's near impossible to just "figure out" whether speech is improving on the side.

Go with your gut. I am certain that there are parents that regret not sitting in with Larry Nasser.

The provider needs to earn your trust. Here's an older news article about a speech therapist that abused kids in the 70s but was not caught until 2010.

https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/authorities-search-for-potential-victims-of-sex-offender/1932940/

[Anonymous]

Why don’t you just ask for the sessions to be recorded? You get your desire to obsessively observe the therapist, she gets the chance to actually work with your kids without you butting in.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. I'm truly shocked that there's a large contingent of parents who just sit in the waiting room. I just don't think one gets good "bang for the buck" that way.

I don't know this speech therapist well, she's not highly regarded or anything like that. I am presently assessing whether she's a good fit for my kid and worth the precious after school time.

I also learn a lot from the good therapists about how to implement solid practices at home. It's been absolutely invaluable, and among 8 or so therapists we worked with over the years, this is the first time I was asked to sit out. I found it strange, at least in my experience.

But parents, honestly, some therapists are sort of shitty. They just are. You don't know that unless you sit in. And it's near impossible to just "figure out" whether speech is improving on the side.

How do you know by watching if they're good? Aren't the results/progress the better indicator? I mean, sure, you get a sense of how they work, but if you're not trained to know what to look for, it could look productive even if it's not, and it could look useless even if there are reasons for what they're doing.

If someone watches me doing my job, they wouldn't understand half of what I'm doing - but they WOULD know if the final outcome was good.

[Anonymous]

OP thinks she can be a therapist herself, which why she believes she can accurately judge their efficacy.

If you think you can do the therapist’s job, OP, then do it. Surely you’ve learned enough by now?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thanks, everyone. I'm truly shocked that there's a large contingent of parents who just sit in the waiting room. I just don't think one gets good "bang for the buck" that way.

I don't know this speech therapist well, she's not highly regarded or anything like that. I am presently assessing whether she's a good fit for my kid and worth the precious after school time.

I also learn a lot from the good therapists about how to implement solid practices at home. It's been absolutely invaluable, and among 8 or so therapists we worked with over the years, this is the first time I was asked to sit out. I found it strange, at least in my experience.

But parents, honestly, some therapists are sort of shitty. They just are. You don't know that unless you sit in. And it's near impossible to just "figure out" whether speech is improving on the side.

How do you know “what’s good?” Are you a speech path? Or what therapeutic thing she is targeting? Is it just for articulation? For OT everything looks like just playing but she’s is doing stuff like strengthening and midline crossing and kinesthetic input but to me it just looks like playing! Kids do better when they have a special bond with their therapist. They are health professionals with licenses and you are sitting right outside in the waiting room. What do you think will happen exactly?

[Anonymous]

We never went in. The therapist met with us during the last 10 minutes to give a recap of what they did and to give suggestions for us.

[Anonymous]

I love our ST, and I sit in on every session. My kid is non-verbal, I'm not leaving them alone. But, also by watching what they're working on and how, helps me teach DC at home between sessions. We've been doing it this way for 4 years without issue.