When should you consult a professional with your child?
Should I consult with my child?
When asking whether consulting might be the right option for our child and us, it’s important to keep in mind that seeing a professional does not make us bad parents. It is appropriate to turn to a health professional when:
- We are facing a situation and feel we lack the resources.
- We observe a concerning behavior in our child, for example increased oppositional behavior.
The impact a third party can have in this type of situation can be extremely significant in your child's life and yours.
The importance of the right professional
Mental health care and social services for children – FamilioGoing to see a professional should not be experienced as a failure. On the contrary, working with a professional to help with our child's health is to acknowledge there is a difficulty and to ensure it is properly addressed.
It is possible to consult a professional with our child for several reasons. The most common are ADHD, oppositional behavior, anxiety, or simply seeking intervention methods to manage certain behaviors.
Consult, yes. But where?
It is no secret that currently, in Quebec, waiting times to see the right professionals continue to lengthen. It is important to target the correct entry point to the services we need. However, it is often difficult to find one’s way through the health care system and the complexity of social services. At Familio, we offer an Ecosystemic Youth Support Service (SAJE), a new option for parents seeking resources.
It is an approach that aims to analyze several spheres of the child's life. With SAJE, we focus not only on the family setting, but also on the child's surroundings, school, personality—in short, their overall living environment.
We carry out an analysis of the overall situation in order to recommend a personalized intervention and offer comprehensive support with the right health professionals.
Choosing SAJE is wise!
When we decide to see a professional, our first reflex is to turn to a psychologist; that’s normal. Professionals in psychology are an excellent avenue when seeking help. The SAJE program at Familio, however, allows us to identify the child's actual needs and direct them to the appropriate professionals.
Few people know this, but each professional works within a specific field of practice and waiting times in psychology are often the longest.
Before going for a psychological evaluation, several resources can be made available to address an issue. This is the approach we advocate with SAJE: we work in an adapted and interdisciplinary manner.
SAJE in 4 points
- An approach based on coherence across all living environments
- A program that improves the situation quickly
- An approach that works in collaboration with frontline workers and teachers
- A strategic approach centered on communication with all stakeholders in the child's life.
Want to know more? Don’t hesitate tocontact us!
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