recommendation of private child psychiatrist please

[gratefulgirl]

Has anyone had experience with assessment from a child psychiatrist. I need to make appointments for both of my DS - both are struggling greatly with anxiety, which turns into depression for my eldest and anger in my youngest. The GP won't prescribe meds to treat anxiety but has referred to psychiatrist. The prob is, the GP has no idea who to recommend. I'd love to hear or positive experiences. I live in south oxfordshire but will drive an hour for the right Dr.

Did the GP not suggest Cahms in Abingdon? Or is there a long wait?

Admirablenelson: No he didn't. He made a referral to PCahms a few months back and they saw my son for 5 sessions but did no assessment and didn't do anything about anxiety. We need to go another route I feel. We are pretty much being passed around. The GP says he's not qualified, PCahms do very little and then discharge to the GP again.

I'll ask my wife who is a child psychiatrist (NHS) in n London. She might have some ideas. Won't be till a bit later this evening.

Thanks! I'd appreciate that.

When we hit a brick wall with dd6 at a the level below cahms, they were going to recommend someone privately at the Tavistock. Don't know too much about it but perhaps they have listings that may work outside London.

Instead, my dd started self hastening and was instantly referred to cahms. I'd been saying I suspected ASD and thankfully cahms saw it straight away.

I'd say a Clinical Psychologist would be more appropriate than a psychiatrist.

I was going to mention the Tavistock where my wife trained, but I don't know if it is too far for you to travel. They might be able to advise on the phone though.

020 7435 7111 Tavistock number; my wife agrees a good first port of call. She totally recognises your previous experiences of the service. We wish you a successful outcome.

Lucy Willetts is good. Warm, approachable, responsive and delivers paperwork/follow up actions in the expected timeframe. She's a child psychologist based in Newbury/Chapel Row in Berkshire. She's written a few books on anxiety as well.

She isn't a psychiatrist so no prescriptions. I'm sure she'd be able to refer you on if necessary, however.

That sounds a bit matter of fact....she is great and helped DS through a tough period.

The royal college of psychiatrists website might be helpful.

CAMHS didn't want to know via a via our dd. Told us to get a therapist off the internet she was actively self harming (blades and pills). GP told us to do the same. Really disgusting.

Have a really good person in Harley Street who we sourced through BUPA. Fab. NHS didn't give a damn. It isn't all about resources it's significantly about inflexibility, mismanagement, poor communication and unprofessionalism.