Alvord Baker Therapist recommendqtion- Rockville office

[Anonymous]

Looking for a therapist recommendation for our 8 year old son who exhibits signs of anxiety (nail biting) and who is lacking in social skills (monologues regarding his own interests).

He has been seeing an OT with 2 years to address proprioception and low core muscle tone, and to build coordination and balance. He also goes to gymnastics to build strength. He has made dramatic improvement, but because of these issues, it is a challenge for him to participate in some of the more physical games (involving monkey bars, first instance, or shooting a basketball) during recess, which isolates him more. He doesn't readily share these experiences and tends to shrug them off, but seems to exhibit anxiety as a result. He has been going to the social thinking group at CCL, which seems to be mildly helpful. He has liked all of his therapists so far. But we feel we needed to have another pair of eyes on him to see what we are missing in terms of the social skills and anxiety. So we turned to Alvord Baker.

He met Dr. Shiffrin for an intake and she seemed impersonal and his stress level went up in the session, so it seemed counter productive. We need a warm therapist who had expertise with quirky, sweet boys with poor social skills and anxiety. Also, regarding group, any thoughts regarding Dr. Berghorst? Thanks!

[Anonymous]

Try Brit Rathbone's group. They are in Bethesda and Rockville. I take both my children (sons) there and have been very happy.

[Anonymous]

Dr. Sanchez at the Rockville office is great with my 8 yo DS. Easy to communicate with! We did group with her.

[Anonymous]

We absolutely love Keri Linas. Has helped a lot with our 9 year old DD.

[Anonymous]

We also see Dr. Shriffrin and find her style just fine for our 12 yr old. She doesn't take our kid's excuses or statements that everything is fine when it isn't. Gives good, practical advice. Just another perspective.

[Anonymous]

We see dr. Berghorst for their resilience builder group. Really like her a lot. I would consider seeing her for cbt but we already see a psychiatrist for that.

[Anonymous]

Have you been accepted for a group program already? They happily took my $200+ and then told me we weren't a good fit.

[Anonymous]

Have you tried the Ross Center for Anxiety? Alvord Baker is great but IME they serve a different type of kid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you been accepted for a group program already? They happily took my $200+ and then told me we weren't a good fit.

Did you get a reason why PP and can you ask them for your money back? Was that the fee for the intake?

[Anonymous]

Also did they offer 1:1 therapy?

[Anonymous]

Shiffrin's approach is very cold. My DD is in a group and we can't wait for it to be over. Her social skills program is very cookie cutter, and she didn't address any of the issues DD has. She worked on lots of things that may work for others, but the one and only issue DD has was not one of the subjects for the entire session. Very disappointed and I should have gone with my gut after my initial conversation. Not a warm bone in her body. We are moving on.

[Anonymous]

Are the groups geared toward children with anxiety or high functioning autism, or is it a mix?

[Anonymous]

I recommend Dr Elizabeth Malesa.

[Anonymous]

Alvord Baker's groups are not social skills in the way most people on think of them. If your main goal is to help your child make friends and do things like enter conversations or approach a group of kids at play and join in or have reciprical conversations, this is probably NOT what you want. People go to CCL, JSSA, TLC, or other places for that. If your child is very rigid and I would think Ivymount's Unstuck and On Target would be a good place to start your search.

The Alvord Baker groups are more about teaching positive thinking, helping with emotional regulation, being a good sport and other skills. They do some work on peer relationships but since it's based on CBT it is more about changing your child's own thinking about herself rather than trying to change behaviors and conform to societal norms. At least my opinion based on my child's experience in the main groups which seem have a mix of kids with no diagnosis and some with ADHD and possibly anxiety. They do run more specialized groups for kids with very HFA and for girls that may focus more on friendships but we don't have experience with those groups so I don't know that for sure.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Have you tried the Ross Center for Anxiety? Alvord Baker is great but IME they serve a different type of kid.

Can you clarify what you mean?