Any experience of dealing with phobias through CAMHS?

[TinfoilHattie]

I have a daughter with a sever phobia of dogs. We know exactly what caused this - a useless owner allowing a spaniel to jump up, put its paws on her shoulders and lick her face when she was 3. She is now almost 12. Terrified of dogs, irrespective of size and breed. She won't go to the park with her friends - there might be a dog. She won't walk to the local cafe with her friends - there might be a dog. She won't go on days out with the family unless forced - there might be a dog. Her teacher brought her new puppy in to school to see the kids and she couldn't even be in the room with it. She is letting this rule her life and is really not happy about it. She wants to not be scared of dogs, but is all "what's the point, no-one can help, it's just the way I am".

A friend who is a clinical psychologist has suggested a referral to CAMHS as they work with specially trained therapy dogs and can gradually work with her to get used to dogs. Has anyone had experience of treating a phobia in this way? We would be prepared to pay privately for treatment but having spoken to the pet therapy man this isn't an option - has to be done through NHS.

Please don't suggest getting a "soppy" dog round to cure her. She needs proper treatment with this as it's only getting worse and a dog which growls, jumps, barks, or even looks at her will set her back even further.

Yes, I have treated food phobias successfully quite a few times. These therapies should be widely available on the NHS, hypnotherapy is in some places and a lot of NHS therapists do use EFT and EMDR alongside counselling, psychotherapy etc.

These therapies should be widely available on the NHS

do you work in the NHS mental health system Dion? our local team are drowning and these luxuries just aren't available or would have waiting lists measured in years

A psychiatric referral available privately wicker. My DD was cutting and overdosing. Took CAMHS 10 weeks to see her. They offered an inaccessible intervention, refused to discuss an alternative and closed her case. Advised finding her a counsellor off the internet. Lost phone numbers,didn't return calls and we watched staff rolling in after 9.15, chatting away. Some of it is about resources, much of it is about poor standards, badly managed teams and a culture of delivering to their needs rather than the clients. CAMHS requires urgent reform hand in hand with resources.

Some of it is about resources, much of it is about poor standards, badly managed teams and a culture of delivering to their needs rather than the clients. CAMHS requires urgent reform hand in hand with resources.

This
but TBH you can reform all you like, if there isn't the money to pay enough staff, you're a bit screwed.

The existing staff need to start

It's chicken and egg though because the existing staff don't operate flexibly to meet client needs and in my experience arrive late to work and often leave well before 5pm. If a service operates 9-5, if staff are overworked a a bare minimum I expect them to render their full contractual hours - not y remain closed at 9.20 am,etc.

@TinfoilHattie I know this thread is old but how are things going? I'm in the same position you were with my 10 year old DD. We're going to ask the GP for a CAMHS referral with the hope that they could get the pet therapy charity to help but I'm not that hopeful obviously. There is nothing available privately up here, we're also in Scotland.

@TinfoilHattie as per the post above from @newhousestress, i too am in the same boat with my child and would really like to hear back on how your daughter is now and what if anything has helped.
Thanks

Hi @kaz135 hopefully @TinfoilHattie will see this soon.

I got an email back from Dogs Trust who are phoning me tomorrow. 👍🏻

Does your DC have a dog phobia?

Look at Charles linden method - there's a children's one. It's a Home learning programme for anxiety and phobias, panic attacks etc.

As someone who had up to three panic attacks a day, believe me, it's fantastic.

@duckyfuzzz thanks, I've had a quick look and will do a bit more research. Quite a bit of criticism of him and his claims online though?