Which mental health support is best

[Whatoflife]

Posting here for traffic

My daughter’s mental health is declining, we’re in the process of autism diagnosis. She’s 14. We need some professional intervention, happy to pay.
Do we need counselling, psychiatrist, child behaviourist, mental health nurse….? I have no idea where to start.

Do you have private cover?

We got help for anxious 8yr old (who turned out to be ASD) and AXA sent us to a psychiatrist first who then referred to a psychotherapist and AXA paid.

Otherwise if I were paying myself for a teen, I might start with a counsellor, I think psychotherapy might be a bit much (I've done both for myself).

Thank you. No private cover. Do you know the best way to find a counsellor? Google? What sort of counsellor? I feel so overwhelmed with it.

I just started counselling and if you look on the BACP website, you should find a choice in your area who will deal with young people. Good luck op.

Teens with autism can struggle to engage with counselling.

What you need depends on what the issues are.

Is your teen anxious and refusing to go to school? Consider a child psychiatrist.

Is your teen refusing to eat? Try NHS ED specialists.

If she's being assessed for autism, it might be some support is offered if she gets a diagnosis.
Sometimes you get offered a parenting course here.

You'll all need to think holistically about what her needs are and if they're being met. Education, relationships, structure. Is her home life routined and predictable?

She and you might need some education around autism and anxiety and how to manage this. How to regulate emotions etc

It might be that this is needed more than therapy.

Who is assessing her? Pads, CAMHS, private psychiatrist?

Sorry meant paeds not pads!

Creative therapies may be worth considering. Young people don’t always want to talk. Of course it depends on the person though, different things help different people. Art, drama and music therapists register with the HCPC and many work privately.

Online therapy is also an option that can be supportive and easier to access.

Thank you everyone for your input. I’ve sought advice from a couple of support groups I’m on, plus the service who are doing her autism assessment, and I have a gp appointment tomorrow.
tbh I’m completely overwhelmed by the amount of advice and links I need to start wading through to try and find the best place to start for her but I’m grateful for your help.