Anyone deal with behavioral issues that improved without medication?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yes you can typically change behavior without meds. I would find a Behavior Analyst and get a behavioral evaluation done then go from there.

FWIW this worked well for us at home but not at all with school or camp.

Are you OP? A good Behavior Analyst will be able to help you with both. I’ve worked probably 100 camps and just as many schools in my lifetime. Just let the BA know during the evaluation that you’d like that to be your focus. You’ll want to look for an individual that works in the home as opposed to a clinic.

The ABA cannot be in school and camps and a non-SN camp or school just won’t really ever have that much fidelity to a BIP. behavioral therapy worked at home because I implemented it but school and camps generally could never do it as well.

As a general statement this is simply not true. I’ve had success in both school and camp many times over. Also, don’t need a full BIP to go to camp or work in a school- a BIP is typically reserved for severe problem behavior.

Well we are talking about behavior severe enough to medicate - so that’s the conversation. And no, most schools don’t have an ABA on staff and won’t follow the best written BIP. Camps either. The problem with my type of kid is that there is no argument to give them a 1:1. If your kid is having repeated explosive episodes at school trying meds is reasonable especially if the alternative is a more restrictive setting. BTDT.

Just because a behavior is severe enough to medicate does not mean you would need a BIP.

Many school systems employ Behavior Analysts and others contract them out. A camp situation would be private pay. You would almost never need a BIP in a summer camp. You do not always need a BIP in a school system to justify utilizing a BA.

Whether or not you medicate makes zero difference to me- that’s your parental right.

My answer to OPs question remains that yes, you can (in most cases) change behavior without needing medication.

Umm by definition yes, if the behavior is severe enough to medicate, you need a BIP. remember OP is talking about behaviors that got her kid kicked out of camp. Not a child being spacey or unfocused or whatever. And good luck getting the school to give you any additional resources like a behavioral analyst without a fight - and a need severe enough to warrant a BIP. Even if you do manage to get them to get a behaviorally informed practitioner to write a good BIP or consult, it is extremely difficult in a mainstream school setting to get teachers and staff to follow it.