Family Road Map Guide

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Learn SYSTEM BASICS
David’s Story in Ten
Photos
Like many children with
autism, our son seemed
to develop as a typical
baby and toddler until 14
months. Then, he stopped
babbling and making eye
contact. By age 2, he spent
most of his time staring
into space, never smiling,
clutching a favorite toy, and
not responding to his own
name. Looking back at family
photos, it was easy to see a
month-by-month decline we
didn’t notice in “real time.”
When we began to look for
help, I put together ten of
these photos to show new
providers. It was a quick and
dramatic way to communicate
his story. (P.S. I am
happy to say that the story
changed a LOT later on in
our journey!)
If you are considering a behavioral health (mental health) clinician who has
a private practice, try to talk to this person on the phone first. Ask questions like
these:
1. How long have you been in practice?
2. How much of your practice is with children (or youth)? What ages are most of
your clients?
3. What type of degrees do you have?
4. Do you have experience working with school systems to get services? Would you
be willing to go to a school meeting, if necessary? If so, what kinds of arrangements
would I need to make with you? (Most providers will charge for this, and
it often will not be covered by insurance.)
5. My child seems to have (explain problem very briefly). How commonly do you
see children/youth with this type of problem?
6. Can you please explain what the steps of the evaluation will be? Will you wish
to see me for an intake interview separately before you see my child?
7. What sorts of tests do you generally use?
8. What do you charge?
9. Do you file insurance paperwork? What is your procedure for payment?
10. Can I contact you between appointments, if necessary? How do you prefer to be
contacted between visits?
Tips for a First Visit
When you see a provider for the first time, pay attention to small cues that could
mean a lot. A good clinician will usually begin by asking something such as, “Why
are you here?” He or she will clearly explain methods for working together, payment
arrangements, and what your role in treatment will be. For example, the clinician
might say, “After I meet with your child for about three weeks, I’ll want us to get
together and review the treatment plan.”
The person may want to meet with your child or youth a few times before
deciding what, if any, tests to use. If so, you should be given some idea of when
to expect this decision. If the child is a teen, the clinician may want to keep some
parts of their therapy discussions confidential (not telling you). The clinician may
do this to build up more trust so the child or youth will be frank and honest in
discussions. If that’s the case, you should be told clearly in the beginning so you
can decide whether to give your consent (legally agree to allow this action to
happen). You should discuss exactly what kinds of information will and will not
be shared.
Pay attention to the person’s manner and the office environment. Does the
clinician make you and your child or youth feel comfortable? Do you feel your
concerns are being heard? If the child or youth has to wait somewhere while you
speak to the person privately, is that space safe and comfortable? What does your
child or youth think?
If your child or youth receives services from a large agency, one person may
conduct the evaluation, and a different person may give therapy. Others, such as
a nurse or psychiatrist, may be in charge of medication management. YOU STILL
HAVE A CHOICE. If one of these persons doesn’t seem right to you, you can
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