Anyone got experience of using private child psychiatrist for teenager?

[TheCountessofFitzdotterel]

Ds is 17, was diagnosed with autism earlier this year. Suicide attempt last summer during GCSEs, discharged by CAMHS when no longer actively suicidal, having offered no help other than family therapy which he refused and a decider skills course which he had already done.
He spends all his time in bed, barely attends school and never does any work, won’t talk to anyone or do any activities.
He has finally admitted he has a problem and agreed to engage with help.
We are looking for help privately as I am not expecting anything from CAMHS as he is not a suicide risk.
Does anyone have experience of using a private child psychiatrist? How much did it cost and how many appointments did you need?
I contacted a local one and we are looking at £740 for an online assessment which we can afford if we have to but then if it is online it doesn’t make sense to go local without looking more widely or asking for recommendations.
And is it a bottomless pit? I mean we can afford occasional appointments but not to pay £300 weekly.

I'm glad your DS is willing to talk to someone. Is it in person? That made a huge difference for mine - a psychotherapist with a calm space where they slowly over many months started to put into words what was happening in their head. £80/session. I only found the ones that wanted hundreds up front for an 'assessment' initially, but eventually found this 'per session' one and she's been great. We also had a very bad experience with CAMHS the first time (also thrown off because not actively suicidal) but went through again after a two year break and it was a totally different experience - it took 7 months so in theory there's no harm being on the waiting list to see but I think yours will turn 18 before probably.

Unfortunately he went to a first session with a psychologist and refused to see her again. He is willing to try someone else but the other person we have been offered has a two month waiting list.

I'm sorry to hear that wasn't a good fit - it is really encouraging that he is willing to try again if you can find another possible route?? I know most other people are talking about psychologists and psychiatrists, whereas we saw a psychotherapist. Can your ds articulate what wasn't what they expected about the session? My ds found the whole think very difficult to start with but he was so desperate for help and she was so what he needed (to slowly open up) that he persevered. I hope you find someone. But it must be worth going on the two month waiting list while you look for other possibilities?

Yes we are on the waiting list. We just have a hope he is still willing when it finally comes round.
He thought she talked too much.
He wouldn’t see himself as desperate for help because his view, which he believes is rational, is that he could just kill himself and then it will be fine.

The only thing I would suggest is googling child/adolescent physiotherapists in your area - one that is available in person. It should hopefully be charged by the hour so your ds can get a feel of the person/relationship. Even if nothing fits, I wonder if the idea of there being people out there who can help would give him something to focus on. Mine needs help (probably asd and struggling for longer than we realised) - he is more intent on getting that help, but if yours can be shown some options for help I really hope he might start to think towards that help, rather than a way out.

Psychotherapists, not physiotherapists!!

My son was prescribed antidepressants by a GP when he was 16. We also found him a counsellor using this link. The one we used alongside the antidepressants changed his life. We paid £50 for 50 mins.
www.counselling-directory.org.uk/?gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw4f6zBhBVEiwATEHFVk-1zJlUVx-C4bmKHG9ssF0qv99V-5imfkkfppeNEeHB3eyultggVxoCjsEQAvD_BwE

Ideally CAMHS, as PP advised, in terms of the NHS absolutely should be in best placed to provide holistic care. But it does depend what services, and waiting lists, are like in your area.
They are shocking here and so we researched and used Oxford ADHD & ASD centre. They have range of disciplines there and saw psychiatrist, and also psychologist. They also had OT, and range of services. Psychiatrist was Dr Tanya MacGregor who was excellent. We travelled to get there when needing to be seen in person but child engaged in online therapy for a period when needed. We found them to be very good. This was around 5 years ago. Can't recall how much the psychology sessions etc cost. One thing that helped was a long conversation with one of the clinical team, before deciding to make an appointment, in which we could discuss what the concerns were and what they could offer. At that stage I don't think I had many chances of trying left so it really needed to feel like a good fit.
Good luck and hope you find something that helps.

Dr Trudie Rossouw at Stepping Stones clinic

I understand you are in the thick of it and it seems very unreal but you saying he thinks
"he could just kill himself and then it will be fine"
really worries me. They don't understand dying at this age (particularly neurodivergent) they think it's like a reset. Please don't underestimate this, just small steps towards help will hopefully give him a light.

But that's not a helpful thing for me to say at this time of night is it, this time of night is for small things like offering cups of tea xx

I'm so sorry about what you're going through OP. Just to let u know a GP prescribed Fluoxetine for my 17yr old child a couple of weeks ago. It took a couple of goes (appointments) but we got there in the end & the GP was actually v helpful & willing. I did explain that we had done a lot privately with talking therapies, but it had got to the stage of needing meds to be able to engage. We also discussed how difficult it is to be stuck on CAMHS waiting list at age 16/17.
Therefore they can prescribe in certain situations. He was actually v supportive.
I wish you & your son luck x

Psychiatry uK
(private) fees on their website
has been an absolute godsend after months and months of getting nowhere with GPs and Cahms for our teen

What makes you think I am underestimating it? We are utterly flipping terrified and tearing our hair out over his refusal to accept help.

Yes sorry, I know.

Another shout for stepping stones. I know two people who have used them and are happy.

I used a private adult psychiatrist for my dd at 17 as she wasn't accepted by child services due to being an adult by the time the list ended for her. He was AMAZING. She was prescribed sertraline and it's helped her hugely.

Appt was £180 for half hour He always ran over tho and never charge us extra. He also prescribed propananol for panic attacks. We saw him Maybe 4 times Private script £50.

She is over 18 now and the gp will prescribe now but we can go back to him if we need too

I would do it absolutely.

Although my daughter is 28 we found a psychiatrist via psychiatry Uk, that was last October. The initial assessment is £360 via video link, he identified Complex PTSD and ADHD traits, he prescribed medication which has helped her greatly. The ADHD assessment is also being dealt with by psychiatry Uk as they are accepting NHS referrals to help with the backlog in the system.

They are fully qualified psychiatrists generally working within the NHS. Like you we had no choice, mental health help is virtually non existent unless you’re having a major crisis. She has follow up appointments which are half an hour each time. We’re still not there yet, a way to go, but she’s in a better position and knows that in time she will get there. He prescribed medication which was then carried on by her G.P, so no private prescriptions.

It’s a minefield out there, it’s so bloody difficult navigating what to do for the best because the NHS is bloody broken! No matter how old or young they are they’re still your children and you don’t abandon them. Just as a thought, have you tried Social Services and asked them for some advice? They have mental health teams, I have a friend that works in one, she’s given me some bits of advice.

I wish you and your family all the best, it hurts like hell to watch your child suffer, how people cope who can’t afford to help them I honestly don’t know, take care, wishing you all the best.

Hello,
Apologises I haven’t read the whole thread so this may have already been mentioned.
My daughter is 15, has ASC. She has been having a number of physical health issues and withdrawing. Some self harm and an overdose.
Took her to see a private psychiatrist yesterday and he talked a lot of autistic burnout, which I hadn’t heard of before. Makes so much sense for her and when I read about your son it made me think he is potentially burnt out.
He diagnosed my daughter with OCD too, as she is experiencing obsessive and intrusive thoughts and hiding it, as she is worried she is a horrible person. So lots going on. She is going to have CBT that will focus on understanding her autism along with the OCD.
In our experience she was diagnosed with ASC and discharged 2 years ago. Although the diagnosis has helped hugely in understanding her more and reducing outright meltdowns we, and most importantly she, didn’t gain any understanding on what it actually means and how it impacts her. She has had so many tests re physical health and actually never once looked at it in the context of autistic burnout.
Again, apologies if this isn’t helpful. Your son may have had lots of support re understanding his diagnosis afterwards.

Hi can I ask which organisation you had the apt with please? Am also looking for a psychiatrist/psychologist for my DS aged 15. Thanks

It was The Retreat clinic in York, so local to us but might not be to you.

How are things going OP?

Psychiatry UK were an absolute godsend to us when we were falling through GP and Cahms
ours was seen by a psychiatrist
prescribed medication and had regular check ups - all online until we managed to get seen by Cahms and they took over prescription
GP would not under any circumstances take over the prescribing of an antidepressant for a 16 year old
we also did private therapy F2F for the psychological work
it’s a tough time x

Thanks for asking. I am scared to say anything in case I jinx it but it’s going better. He’s restarted his A levels at a different school and 2 weeks in we are cautiously optimistic.
After the first few days he told me he had got back in touch with his friends from the old school, who he had been ghosting since the spring, which I think is really significant.

He still hasn’t got to the top of the waiting list for the other psychologist though!

Did he go on medication in the end?

Nope, we never got anything like that far.
We were waiting for him to see a different psychologist after he said he didn’t want to see the first one again. We were told it would be 2 months and since he was willing to go to appointments there we decided to stick with it rather than cut our losses and start again somewhere else.
In the meantime he surprised us all by being willing to go for an interview and take an entrance exam for the other school.