Reply to Therapy for anxious 7yo?

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]Thank you for the constructive advice, especially y7:13. We are actually not in DC so I can't use specific clinic or doctor referrals but I will definitely try to find something similar where we live.

Calling me naive and telling me I messed up by not getting her help earlier really isn't helpful. We did help her significantly over the past year and a half and she is not and never has been out of control with her behavior with the (granted large) exception of the skin picking. When she's anxious about something we calm her down and talk about it and she recognizes when she's anxious and is able to calm down quite quickly. I do realize that can change which is why I'm taking more steps to address it now. And I have been advocating and helping her her entire life. [/quote]

OP,

I'm sorry you've got so many nasty responses.  The SN forum is open to everyone, and many contribute mean, unhelpful comments basically b/c they can.  Good for you for realizing there's a potential issue, and taking action.  As parents are kids are growing and changing and may start doing certain things that we don't recognize as a pattern.  Often as parents, when we reach out for help from likely sources like pediatricians or teachers, we get no where b/c they don't see it either.

There are possible reasons for what your child is doing.  It could be anxiety, it could be OCD, it could be related to ADHD.  First, has your child ever had a neuropsych evaluation to screen for anxiety and/or ADHD?  If so, is she currently on medication that might explain the behavior?  Second, even if your child hasn't had this testing, it would be helpful to find a therapist who specializes in OCD.  This can be hard to find, especially for children.  Therapists who specialize in OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Disorder) usually approach it in a CBT (Cognitive Behavioral Therapy) setting.

CBT is essentially understanding how thoughts, emotions, and behaviors are linked and feed off each other in a cycle.  So in the OCD situation, if a child is anxious and starts picking her skin, a therapist will help her recognize the thoughts and emotions that trigger the behavior.  Then they work on changing the behavior by substituting appropriate behaviors.  So they may substitute a squeeze ball for example.

Although it may sound odd, a local DC area expert in OCD uses The Kazdin Method with children who have OCD.  This is a behavioral approach and can be used with in place of or in addition to CBT.  The basics of the Kazdin Method is using positive reinforcement to change behavior.  So when a kid with an OCD behavior like picking skin will get points and praise for demonstrating an appropriate behavior, e.g., like using a squeeze ball instead of picking the skin.

To find a therapist where you live, I would check with NAMI:  https://www.nami.org
You can also contact your nearest Children's Hospital.  Please let us know how it goes.[/quote]

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