Finding The Best Child And Family Psychological Services

By Cherry Mercer


Many children throughout the country struggle with everyday issues that most of us take for granted. They may be bothered by the bright lights of the grocery store. The chaos and noise of the classroom and school cafeteria. These issues may seem trivial to most people but it can often be a sign that the help of child and family psychological services are needed.

The aim of the services is to help each individual function as effectively as possible in everyday activities. This includes school, college, work and social situations. From the earliest years children need to develop these skills to become productive members of society. When problems are encountered it is better to begin treatment as soon as possible.

An increasing number of children are being diagnosed on the Autism spectrum. This can range from fairly mild symptoms all the way to extreme cases in which the child is totally unable to function in society. Whatever the level of symptoms it is crucial to get an accurate diagnosis and begin a treatment plan. This should include social skills training, how to function in a small group, how to interact with peers and much more.

Young children are naturally impulsive and many do not want to sit still. However, when they begin kindergarten a more serious situation may become apparent. Children who cannot pay attention often disrupt the rest of the class. The teacher will struggle to maintain control and before long the parents will be called in for a meeting. This is a very difficult situation for everyone concerned and it is best handled with compassion, respect and honest. A referral to a good psychologist is the first step to finding out if there are some underlying problems that require professional help.

Schools must also be part of the action plan. The teachers and support staff should meet with the parents and review the psychological reports. From these they can set up a complete program that begins the moment the students walks through the school doors. There should be routines in place that allow the student to know where they are going and what they will be doing. Daily charts that set out all the lesson, recess and lunch time are a very simple but valuable tool. If the student is becoming confused they simply look at their chart to see what is coming next.

Every care and respect must be afforded to a youngster struggling with the devastating effects of autism or depression. However, this diagnosis should not be used to overlook bad behavior. Clear boundaries must be set and the youngster must know that inappropriate behavior will not be accepted. One of the best ways to make progress is to offer an acceptable alternative where ever possible.

Many children with Autism do not like to go to the grocery store because of the lights, noise and over stimulation. Being given the option to stay home and work on an art project or read is a good idea. The time should be put to good use and not spent watching television or playing video games. These have been shown to have a negative effect on all children, but are especially harmful to those with additional psychological problems.

Good child and family psychological services are respectful and compassionate. They understand the struggles that children go through on a daily basis. In addition they recognize how difficult it is for the entire family and address their needs too.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment