Seeking recommendations for child therapist for anxiety/nighttime issues

[Anonymous]

Our 8YO DD cannot fall asleep on her own and comes into our bed every night. Our pediatrician recommends a therapist. Can anyone recommend a therapist who is good on these issues? VA or DC preferred. TIA!

[Anonymous]

I am surprised that your pediatrician recommended a therapist for this. Any other issues than coming to your bed at night?

[Anonymous]

I understand that the therapists at the Ross Center deal with this, but in connection with larger anxiety issues. If this is the only issue, I don't know that they would do much more than recommend strategies you can already find online.

[Anonymous]

I haven't tried this myself because my DC already sees a therapist, but I really like the articles on this website and their online program is about half the price of one of my DC's therapy appointments. Anyone tried it?

http://www.gozen.com/

[Anonymous]

Mine did this for a full year from 7-8.

His older brother did it his entire Kindergarten year.

One night--they didn't come in and that was the end of it.

From experience, I knew to cherish the middle of the night cuddles/visit.

9 and 11 and never come in now.

I never made it an issue. I think parents today want to over-analyze and get a therapist for everything.

[Anonymous]

For our kid, it was just sleep apnea from giant tonsils. Once removed, life improved tenfold. Slept thru night from then on, no nightmare or waking. If anything, sorry I let them put me off and shouldve pressed the issue sooner.

[Anonymous]

An 8 yo might be a good candidate for play therapy. My 7 yo sees Jennifer Glacel (near Seven Corners in NoVA) and it's really helped him create more calm reactions and process his feelings.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Mine did this for a full year from 7-8.

His older brother did it his entire Kindergarten year.

One night--they didn't come in and that was the end of it.

From experience, I knew to cherish the middle of the night cuddles/visit.

9 and 11 and never come in now.

I never made it an issue. I think parents today want to over-analyze and get a therapist for everything.

Agree. And then the kids think they are freaks and go into teen years on meds, still seeing a therapist, blaming everything on their anxiety/depression.

My DD had night terrors and would sleepwalk almost nightly for 9 months around age 6. Clueless it was happening but tough for us. At age my youngest DD decided she needed one of us to lay with her until she falls asleep. She also decided no more sleepovers at both grandmom. It's been 6 months. No change. It is a typical phase at this age. It will pass.

Be a parent and comfort your child. If they sense your anxiety, annoyance or God forbid, a need for a shrink, than it will get worse. And one day you will miss those cuddles and your child wanting you to be there for them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am surprised that your pediatrician recommended a therapist for this. Any other issues than coming to your bed at night?

It probably just annoys PP. Pay someone else to deal with her kid.