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What's the nicest way to request a new therapist?

xxHMxxxxHMxx
in Special Needs

I'm really not happy with my daughter's PT right now. She always walks in like she'd rather be anywhere else, and she has been really short fused with Addy lately. If my kid cries, she rolls her eyes or makes a comment about it. She asks me to leave the room when my daughter cries because she thinks I make it helps if she can't see me. I don't mind doing this, but it doesn't help. I instead make myself busy in the next room where I can still hear everything and I peek around the corner every once in awhile to see what she's working on.

Lately, if Addy's having a meltdown or crying and screaming because she doesn't want to do it, she gets frustrated and lets her throw toys and the situation just escalates. She doesn't try to work her through it or stop what they're working on to try to calm her down. Instead she'll sit on her phone and text. If she notices me standing there then she'll put her phone down right away and pick Addy up.

Then at the end of the session she always acts too busy to talk or answer questions so I have to call and leave her messages and it takes her days to respond. I get it if she has to take a call every once in awhile or she has to send a text, but she does this every week for over half the session. She waits for my daughter to stop crying, but she doesn't enjoy PT so she isn't going to stop. All of her other therapists make her work through it anyway, or move on to something else and come back to it. This lady just stops everything and thinks it's the perfect time to return phone calls or text people.

I'm beyond frustrated and I feel like Addy isn't getting anything out of it.

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Re: What's the nicest way to request a new therapist?

  • lazysusanlazysusan member
    I'm a EI PT, and this made me mad.  Bottom line your child qualifies for PT, and she is not getting the service she deserves because your provider is texting.  That is unprofessional and not ethical in my opinion.  I'm on the road a lot and get reached by cell, but leave my phone in the car during visits.  My son has medical concerns, and even with that, I don't interrupt the session.  I don't know how good you are at confronting (I am not).  Have you talked to her about it?  You could always call her boss/agency and ask to speak to the appropriate person.  They can assign another therapist if available.  If you want a different agency, you could talk to your service coordinator or school district (if she is over 3).  I'm sorry you are having this experience.
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  • xxHMxxxxHMxx

    My daughter's only 17 months, so she's getting all of her services through EI.

    And I try to avoid confrontation at all costs. I really won't be comfortable saying anything to her.

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  • susanmosleysusanmosley member

    uh.  I am a speech therapist and this is so upsetting to hear.  My point is that I am not even taking this from a parent stand point and it is still completely not okay.  

    Are you at a clinic where there are other options and an administrator?  I would talk to the administrator/coordinator and just be as honest and unemotional as possible.  Put the "blame" on yourself if you feel that would make it easier and less confrontational (assuming you will continue at that clinic and see the old therapist).  

    Bottom line, it is your sweet precious daughter and no one is going to take care of her like you can.  So, times like this WHEN THE THERAPIST IS ROLLING HER EYES, UNAVAILABLE TO TALK WITH YOU, AND TEXTING (are you kidding me!?), you gotta do what you know is best for YOU and Addy (cute name) and be able to not worry about what they think about your choice.

    GL.  I am sorry you are dealing with this. 

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  • susanmosleysusanmosley member

    sorry.  just read the EI part.

    I would go to the service coordinator.  This is a really unfortunate situation and I can imagine it isn't going to be the easiest to overcome.  I am sorry. 

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  • breezy0629breezy0629 member

    In hindsight... I would have never said anything negative to anyone else unless I had confronted the therapist first. We had an EI OT who really just didn't do her job and refused to do evaluations for my son. So, I called and told my case worker what was going on and said to please switch.

    Now, the same exact lady is my son's in-school OT and she does nothing for him, but she also wont make eye contact with me. 

    I think that I could've and should've handled it better on my end by just being upfront with her and telling her what I was displeased with. it is so hard though, you're not the one who is in the wrong. So, bottom line, you do need to switch and someone needs to know too. I just pray you don't have to see her again in the future. :( 

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  • JenGKJenGK
    I'm totally a non-confrontational person, too, and I had to fire a therapist once.  The approach that I took was to shift the issue to my child in a way.  You might try something along the lines of "For whatever reason, DD isn't engaging with you in the way that she engages with her other therapists, and I'd like to try working with someone new to see if she connects better with that person."  The SLP I let go was fine with this explanation.
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  • what??what??

    I feel this is from a Seinfeld episode!!  Is this lady kidding me that she rolls her eyes, texts, etc.  She should be fired in general, not just from you!  Talk to the serivce coordinator and explain your issues but if you can, I would talk to her first and bascially just say that you dd is not happy and engaging with her the way you believe she should and you would like to switch.  When my DS was having a rough week with PT, his therapist said if he continues, she may try someone else because it has happened where therapist and child just don't click.  Now he cries sometimes when she first come in but once I leave the room he is fine.  Good luck and so sorry this is happening to you and your DD.

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  • jerseycaptivejerseycaptive member

    I'm going thru something similar.  Just call your coordinator / case manager and speak to him or her about your concerns.  Addy isn't going to benefit with you getting frustrated over someone not doing her job.  Speak up for Addy.

    Somebody's lack of participation is NO excuse for prohibiting your child from getting the services she needs.  Honestly, I think Addy is having a meltdown because she's picking up on the bad mojo.  Take a cue from your baby.

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