Monday, December 03, 2007

If only . . .

I blogged on Friday about Dustin saying things at school about his former abuse. I also blogged that he had a therapy appointment later that day and I thought it would be nice to visit that topic then. When Robert picked me up at work Friday evening, I asked how it went. He said that Dustin told her that he was thinking about being hurt because he had some bad dreams about his abuser lately (which I think is a crock). He tends to say he has bad dreams every time he gets in trouble, steals or says things that aren't true. He has learned through years of therapy that they always ask him if he has bad dreams and he always says "yes" even if he never mentions having bad dreams at home. I don't fully believe he has them, I think he uses that as a learned excuse. Whether or not he does doesn't dismiss the idea that he is telling people at school things that are not true.

So, do you know what his therapists answer to the issue is?

Freakin' pixie dust.

She told my concrete thinking, 12 year old FAS child to sprinkle pixie dust around his bed at night to keep the bad dreams away. This is a woman who is supposed to understand FAS. Pixie dust is her answer.

Please.

She didn't talk about telling truths. She didn't talk about past tense or present tense. She didn't deal with his PTSD issues. She told him to sprinkle imaginary pixie dust. Better yet. . . she actually told my husband to get a shaker and put some pixie dust (nothing) in it and use it at bedtime.

No. I will not. And she better be glad I didn't take him to this appointment. If only it were that easy.

7 comments:

Patty said...

I don't know why THIS vision popped into my head as I was reading your post but here it is anyway...

I pictured this therapist stuck on the side of the road with a flat tire. It is cold and wet, and she is shivering. You drive by (in a nice warm car), roll down your window, hand her an empty shaker, and tell her to have a nice night as you roll your window back up and drive away.

Sheri said...

THAT made my morning!

Thanks, Patty

Mary said...

It's hard to find a good therapist. I'm sorry to say I don't have much faith in them.

Sheri said...

You're right Mary. Unfortunately much of them are as kooky as their patients . . . what's the saying my grandma used to use . . .

It takes one to know one.

Sorry to all those who are reading in the "therapy world". HeeHee

Kari said...

Patty, your vision cracked me up. I wasn't sure what to say when I read this! ~Kari

enigma4ever said...

I stop by sometime and read your blog , I don't always comment...but holy cow-- I can't believe she told you that...awful...my son is a teenager that has PTSD, from a different set of circumstances....but we have dealt with it as best we can, and I tried to take him to a therapist once before and was told by a "professional" that "kids and teens don't get PTSD" ( so he was fired rather quickly)..it is amazing to me WHAT "Professionals" will say...and tell people...
I have a great deal of admiration for all of the work that you and Robert do for your kids,and Dustin is so fortunate to have you......that you think with your head and your heart....

( and Patty had the best idea....)

Marla said...

I had similar experiences...lots of them with Maizie's professionals. This would include psychiatrists, counselors, psychologists, neuropsychologists and the list goes on. Some of the advice was totally nuts. I finally gave up on counseling for our daughter. I just get it every now and then for myself.