Behavior Therapist in DC, Norther VA or MD

[Anonymous]

Hello parents,

My almost 4 year old boy has early symptoms of ADHD. His developmental specialist recommended a behavior therapy. The recommended place is in Baltimore and it's quite a commute for us as we live in DC.

Does anyone know of a good behavior therapist for 4 year old in DC, northern VA or MD?

Thanks!

[Anonymous]

What kind of behavior therapy?

I would call the place in Baltimore and ask for recs in DC or close in

[Anonymous]

OP here. I'm not sure what type of therapy that is. The doctor said a behavior therapy for ADHD.

[Anonymous]

Hi OP - not to discourage you, but I've never had any recommendations for a behavioral therapist in this area from this forum, and we've been looking for it for a while for our kiddo with ADHD. What place in Baltimore did they recommend? You may want to call them and ask them for recommendations in this area. I'm curious to know which place because I may call them too!

Behavior therapy, unlike play therapy or drawing therapy, should help you develop specific strategies for managing ADHD behavior. So - target one or two behaviors that you'd like to change, decide what behavior you want to see, set up a system for encouraging the positive behavior and discouraging the negative behavior, in a way that fits your child. Since the normal 1-2-3 Magic or time-out systems don't work very well (or at all) for ADHD kids, or might even backfire, a professional behavior therapist can help you discover what does work for you and your child. I'm not discounting play or art therapy, it just doesn't really help ADHD behavior.

Anyway, please post the place in Baltimore if you don't mind!

[Anonymous]

OP here.

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. It's the Kennedy Krieger Institute. My boy was evaluated by a developmental specialist and he said that he shows early signs of ADHD. However it's questionable due to he's being only a 4 year old. And the doctor recommended a behavior therapy.

[Anonymous]

Ahh, OK. thanks OP! KKI is fantastic, but it sure is a hike. Our daughter has autism, and she and I met with a behavior therapist in their autism treatment program a couple of times - she was wonderful. It was so long ago, though, and I've lost her card. I think Children's National Medical Center has an ADHD program that you can look into as well? Best of luck!

[Anonymous]

Fairfax County Parenting Resource Center often has seminars on ABA therapy (aka behavior therapy)

[Anonymous]

Robin Allen is a behaviorist and is good with small kiddos if you are willing to follow her structured approach. Sharon Weiss is also good but works with the parents directly and doesn't meet the kiddos.

[Anonymous]

I was just going to post Sharon Weiss.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. It's the Kennedy Krieger Institute. My boy was evaluated by a developmental specialist and he said that he shows early signs of ADHD. However it's questionable due to he's being only a 4 year old. And the doctor recommended a behavior therapy.

We went to KKI for our evaluation and got a diagnosis of ADHD. We went to the KKI Behavioral Clinic in Columbia, MD. Not quite the hike to Baltimore, but still a trek.

I think it's worthwhile. They give good explanations on the purpose of therapy, demonstrate techniques, and give feedback then and there on the skills your practicing.

[Anonymous]

I would recommend Sharon Weiss over Robin Allen. Robin Allen seems to deal with more severe issues where she actually needs to go hide in your house and watch what's going on.

[Anonymous]

Big no here for Sharon Weiss. Total waste of $$

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend Sharon Weiss over Robin Allen. Robin Allen seems to deal with more severe issues where she actually needs to go hide in your house and watch what's going on.

We are working with Robin Allen and are grateful to have gotten in w her as she is generally not taking new patients. Children don't come w instruction manuals. She's helping us establish structure and order and expectations for behavior etc. appreciate that she comes into our home. She observes what needs help and tells us how to address and manage. Some find her overbearing. I do not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I would recommend Sharon Weiss over Robin Allen. Robin Allen seems to deal with more severe issues where she actually needs to go hide in your house and watch what's going on.

We are working with Robin Allen and are grateful to have gotten in w her as she is generally not taking new patients. Children don't come w instruction manuals. She's helping us establish structure and order and expectations for behavior etc. appreciate that she comes into our home. She observes what needs help and tells us how to address and manage. Some find her overbearing. I do not.

Agree with the pp -- I love Dr. Robin as a person. She may seem overbearing but underneath she is a really wonderful person with a great heart. Her approach did not work for us b/c we started when my kids were older and they wouldn't buy in and we wouldn't enforce consequences (totally our fault). If we had lived in the area when they were younger, I think that it would have worked perfectly for us. She knows that her system is structured but once it is in place, families can modify it to their needs. I hate to see her get bashed online. Some people don't like her system and that's fine. I know that it failed in our house b/c of us and not b/c of her. But I still have a lot of respect for her and would recommend that families who need help give her a chance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:OP here.

Thanks so much for sharing your thoughts. It's the Kennedy Krieger Institute. My boy was evaluated by a developmental specialist and he said that he shows early signs of ADHD. However it's questionable due to he's being only a 4 year old. And the doctor recommended a behavior therapy.

We went to KKI for our evaluation and got a diagnosis of ADHD. We went to the KKI Behavioral Clinic in Columbia, MD. Not quite the hike to Baltimore, but still a trek.

I think it's worthwhile. They give good explanations on the purpose of therapy, demonstrate techniques, and give feedback then and there on the skills your practicing.

We also go to KKI in Columbia, and we live in NOVA. It's been completely worth it, though it requires us to take a half day off work each week. For my DS at least, this isn't a super long term thing. We've been going since June, and we're now starting to go every other week and eventually will go once per month.