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Can anyone suggest how to find a child therapist?

atypicalmum

Hi there everyone,

This is my first post on the forum but l've been following threads for a while and learnt lots from others on here.

My son is 7 and has Asperger's Syndrome. I've been seeing an increase in research on the link between ASD and the development of mental health issues in later life that really concerns me. The recent NAS report says 71% of children on the ASD spectrum go on to develop mental health problems.

I've been fighting for a while to try and secure some one-to-one therapy for my son. I feel this will be helpful to deal with some of the challenges he faces in the present and also a good proactive tool for the prevention of self esteem and other mental health complications later.

Having tried my GP, CAMHS, SENDIS and SENCO l have given up trying to get this through the NHS - it just isn't available. I'm happy to pay privately for this as l'm convinced it will help my son, but don't know where to start looking for a therapist.

I've tried all the links on this website to registered counsellers etc as well as some national counselling umbrella organisations, but when you choose ASD or Aspergers Syndrome as the specialism it doesn't find anyone anywhere near me (we live in Milton Keynes). I guess maybe it's too much to expect a great therapist with a specialism in AS to live on my doorstep, so l'm wondering whether anyone can recommend a good therapist who has an interest in ASD and who might be willing to adapt their normal interventions so they are suitable for my AS son?

Any suggestions would be really helpful.

Thanks

Parents

  • Atypicalmum

    That is great you are thinking ahead, however I believe most the mental health problems could come from a non-diagnosed background, non-supportive background and therefore lack of coping and functional strategics for people suffering from ASD/Aspergers have increased problems which run into adulthood and affect there mental health, anxiety, depression, OCD, phobia etc, but this is secondary to the primary cause which is Autism traits. So the 71% is a political high figure for funding for the NAS to justify coin,, so long-term this will not be the case if the Autism Act strategy is carried out.

    So in way, I think you are jumping the gun. Why don't you become the Asperger specialist, you have a living case and help others. You would think the NAS would have a team of carers who are parents or carers who they can train in this field, helps everyone all round. Or is there other parents out there in your area, who you can link up with and help each other.  

    Your child should have a care plan so the correct professional input should be there already, so why are you asking for it or looking to pay for this ? seems a strange set up.

    As I have said before the Autism sector does not have a clue what it is doing, it seems like a lottery system, you would think the NAS would be a coordinating factor, as they are getting £90 million to be an agent for the government, that money could be streamlined into another Autism organisation with more success, less talk more action.

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  • Atypicalmum

    That is great you are thinking ahead, however I believe most the mental health problems could come from a non-diagnosed background, non-supportive background and therefore lack of coping and functional strategics for people suffering from ASD/Aspergers have increased problems which run into adulthood and affect there mental health, anxiety, depression, OCD, phobia etc, but this is secondary to the primary cause which is Autism traits. So the 71% is a political high figure for funding for the NAS to justify coin,, so long-term this will not be the case if the Autism Act strategy is carried out.

    So in way, I think you are jumping the gun. Why don't you become the Asperger specialist, you have a living case and help others. You would think the NAS would have a team of carers who are parents or carers who they can train in this field, helps everyone all round. Or is there other parents out there in your area, who you can link up with and help each other.  

    Your child should have a care plan so the correct professional input should be there already, so why are you asking for it or looking to pay for this ? seems a strange set up.

    As I have said before the Autism sector does not have a clue what it is doing, it seems like a lottery system, you would think the NAS would be a coordinating factor, as they are getting £90 million to be an agent for the government, that money could be streamlined into another Autism organisation with more success, less talk more action.

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