Your child’s social worker at the hospital should contact and schedule a family meeting within the first 48 hours after your child has been admitted. Many of your questions will be answered during this first meeting, so it is important to get started right away!
It is helpful to meet with the psychiatrist in person. Remember! The psychiatrist is at the hospital in the morning, so ask your social worker to schedule a morning family meeting so the psychiatrist will be able to join.
Parent information sessions are offered once a week while your child is in the hospital. You and other parents will have the chance to meet with one of the social workers together to ask questions regarding hospitalization and what to do when your child is discharged. It is helpful to attend more than one session because new information will be discussed.
Lauren Sheehan is our office administrator who will work with you and help guide you through the billing process. (571) 877-6869
It is your choice what you tell your child’s school. School counselors are often very helpful during this process and an excellent resource to have on your child’s side as they return to school. With your permission, we will contact the school counselor to gather additional information that will be critical in diagnosing and treating your child.
The average time between the onset of symptoms and proper diagnosis is 8 to 10 years! Psychological testing can help differentiate between diagnoses to guide treatment of the underlying illness, saving you time and money.
The purpose of medication is to undo the effects of the illness and restore one’s normal self so they can make use of therapy. Medication aherence allows for this process to unfold and get your child back on track. One of the most common reasons individuals end up back in the hospital is because they stop taking their medication on a regular basis.
Family therapy is required twice a week while your child is in the hospital. But it doesn’t stop there. Family therapy is crucial in treating your child long-term. Family therapy opens lines of communication, supports each other, educates one another, encourages consistent limit setting, and creates a sacred place to grow and change together. Talk to your social worker about setting up outpatient family therapy.
Transitions are critical times for individuals coming out of the hospital. Partial hospitalization programs help to maintain therapeutic growth. Our goal is to gradually reintroduce stressors into your child’s life. Doing too much too soon will send your child backwards. The partial hospitalization program allows for a smoother transition back home.
Family meetings are a time to learn what your child has been working on while in treatment, address family dynamics, begin to understand the situations that led to your child coming into the hospital, and make plans for your child returning home. There is a lot of information to cover in a little bit of time. Come prepared to family meetings with a list of topics and questions to get the most of your hour.
If your child does not already have an outpatient team, it is important to have one in place by the time they discharge from the hospital. The work you and your child do while they are in the hospital is only the beginning and requires continued therapy. Your child should have appointments scheduled to see an outpatient therapist, family therapist, and child psychiatrist. To schedule outpatient appointments with Columbia Associates, contact Lauren Sheehan. (571) 877-6869
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