Mama Bear

For me as a child therapist it is almost like being a mother. I am very proud of my clients, I respect them, advocate for them and defend them to the end like I do for my own kids. Thus when I feel they have been mistreated the Mama Bear comes out. So, when I walked into this scene at my office last week, the Mama Bear come out as it did with my co-workers as well, but when Mama Bear really took inventory of the situation, the Mama Bear disappeared and was replaced with hurt and sadness.

Here is the story; I was told on Thursday that my office might be switched. I was asked when so I could have my belongings packed and pictures off my wall. It was suggested that on Saturday before I left for the week would be great. The next day, Friday, I walk in and my office had a desk, bookcase and computer that were not mine. I was told my office was moved, and in 15 minutes I was to start my sessions for the day with no couch, and the disaster that is seen below.

Not only was there no way to make it presentable in 15 minutes, the carelessness that was used to move things was astounding. Pictures the children had made in therapy were crushed, torn, or taped onto each other (see first picture above with torn border). Kids work hard in therapy and are proud to see their theraputic pictures displayed in the office, and now they are crumpled and wrinkled. How can people have such disrespect for these kids, their progress in therapy and in their work, especially when these people moving it work in mental health!! Granted they are not therapists, but they should know the customer base they are serving.

Also, these cooperate people who obviously do not understand their customer base did not given me the opportunity to prepare clients for the upcoming change. Not only is it a new office, with a new shape, and a new hallway, I come out of a totally different door to the waiting room to come and get the child. On Saturday my clients had to experience this change, and let me say, my little Aspie clients had a very difficult time adjusting!

I hear my office has a couch now, and furniture is placed by the wall instead of the middle of the room, but I will not believe anything until I see it with my own eyes on Thursday.

A Day in the Office

Was today a day, in my office of course. It stated with an extremely sad case of a lady with what the psychiatrist diagnosed as a mood disorder, that I felt was a bipolar disorder with psychosis (she was hearing a voice in her head). To make this more painful was that she had just given birth 5 weeks previous. As she sat and told me what was going on with her, her tiny baby was nestled into his car seat. She talked about anger, anxiety, mood swings, depression and the fact she did not feel she was "bonding" with her baby. She was taking care of him and nurturing him but could feel no connection to him.

The next client was a 13 year old girl who had been expelled from junior high for drinking alcohol in class. Wow, that was a tough one. All she could do was hold her head in her hands and try not to cry.

I had a few kiddos who needed extreme prompting to participate in any therapy activity, and sad to say, I was glad for my last cancellation of the day. Notes to write, calls to return to families, oh and also those dreaded calls to Child Protective Services, gotta love that to end the Friday.

Can't wait to see what tomorrow brings.

Hmmm.

I love when parents bring their child into a therapist and really do not want to hear a potential diagnosis or say they know the diagnosis, and all these different parenting tactics have not worked, yet do not give a thought to trying a new approach.

Diagnosis of a child's mental health is extremely sensitive and needs to be approached very delicately. No one really wants anything to be wrong with their child. But, if you are taking your child to a psychiatrist and a therapist and they are only 5 years old, maybe the psychiatrist and therapist might have helpful information they can share. Why make the effort to bring them if you do not want the advise or help?

O.K. Rant done. It was a long two days. One more to go.