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resources in baton rouge so, once you?ve decided a
behavioral
therapist would be beneficial to your
child
and your
family
, where do you get information on who to see? because your
child
?s pediatrician regularly sees him or her, that might be a good place to start. the doctor may be able to give you a referral or simply provide more information about local therapists. some other common points of reference include church communities, the school counselor or advisor, and local nonprofits such as
family
road of greater baton rouge or catholic charities. visit psychologytoday.com and plug in your zip code to find other useful resources for
behavioral
therapists. it doesn?t have to be anything expensive or fancy, just a simple color chart that the
child
can participate in making. i try to make it in very simple terms, something the
child
can understand?something that will put a smile on their face. a
child
with physical symptoms, such as frequent headaches or stomach aches, she will recommend that the
child
see a pediatrician first to rule out the possibility of a medical issue. ??ere are so many different reasons why
behavioral
problems can occur,? says dr. patricia schneider, a pediatrician with the pediatric clinic. ??e gift of the therapist, like dana and a number of other wonderful people we have in baton rouge, is to be able to sit back and be an objective observer. ?e therapist can help interpret the
child
?s behavior for the parent and work to get the
family
on the same page to solve whatever issue there is.? ?ere are a variety of methods that vicellio uses in
behavioral
therapy. she generally assigns the parents and
child
ren some ?homework? assignments to work on together as part of the treatment plan. looking for a way to reward positive behavior is key, such as in the use of sticker charts. for those with adhd or other
behavioral
disorders, vicellio frequently teaches social skills, such as sharing and waiting your turn to talk. talk and art therapy with the
child
can identify sources of anxiety. for
child
ren who are experiencing difficult life events such as divorce or grief due to the death of a loved one, group therapy can help
child
ren lift each other up and know that they are not alone. ?it?s much better to seek help when you notice there?s a problem in the
child
than to second guess yourself and wait and regret not doing so when they?re an adult,? says vicellio. ?by and large, as a parent, you know your
child
better than anybody, so pay very close attention and just be aware of any changes in their mood, attitude, sleep or appetite?those would be some red flags.? dr. schneider agrees. ?i always urge parents not to sweep
behavioral
problems under the rug until the
child
is in their teens,? she says. ?if you?re having a problem in first grade, that is not going to go away without intervention. it does take time, it does cost money, but it?s something that will really pay off in the long run.? ? october 2016 | brparents.com 33
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