What happens when you meet with a psychiatrist?

[sunnyweatherplease]

After a long process through PCAMHS and CAMHS, we are finally meeting with a paed psychiatrist on wednesday. The appointment is 90mins long and myself, dd and dh will all be present. (ds too as school has finished).
Can anyone tell me what is likely to happen please so I can prep my dd?? Might she be taken off to talk on her own? 90mins seems a long time.
Thankyou….

When we met with the psychiatrist we talked about the evidence that had already been gathered and what her plans were. Dd3 was being assessed for Asd. The psych said she was planning to do a DISCO assessment on Dd3 and explained a bit about what she wanted to do. She asked Dd3 a few questions and then we left. We had further appointments without Dd3 to work through the assessment.

Dd3 was only taken off to work with the Mental health nurse a couple of times during the whole CAMHS process to do some practical tasks.

How old is your Dd and what is she being assessed for?

Good luck

In our experience child was never seen minus parent's.

If I knew at the start of the journey what I know now I would also make sure that child was not in the same room when an in depth discussion of their problems was discussed.

The initial meeting (or three) for us was a really detailed description of all the background history. The 90 minutes went quite quickly.

dd is almost 9.
I think it is for poss Aspergers, adhd and sensory problems. Generally, defiant behaviour and violent rages.
She's only been seen once by PCAMHS, and me on one other occasion.

Any info would be good, as I'm sure you all know that preparation for new situations is a good thing.

I agree with One about not talking in great detail in front of them, it is not good for self esteem hearing your parents give away your inner most secrets. We tried to go together so that one of us could sit in the waiting room with Dd3. Although to be fair we had lots of appointments without her while the MH nurse was building up a picture of her issues and then again for the DISCO.

I would give her some info but not so much that it freaks her out, remember you are the number one expert on your Dd

ok, thanks. The main thing I wanted to know is if dd is likely to be taken out on her own. Seems unlikely from what you've both said.
I would feel very bad talking in depth in front of her. Some of the things she does are "very very secret" between us and her.

Well I needn't have bothered worrying - the bl**dy psychiatrist wasn't there.
So we wait again.

9 months and counting………
So glad dh and I both took the afternoon off work.

How annoying didnt they phone and let you know?

Or did they try to fob you off with someone else?

No phone call. Nothing.
We'd been told there would be two people seeing us, including a lady Psych. When we got into the room there were two men in there, and one was introduced as a student, one as a nurse. I asked where Dr was, and they said she'd been called away, so they'd just be taking notes (again) today, and then they'll discuss (again) and arrange a meeting with Dr (again).
I am fuming.

I cant tell you now many times this happened to us when my husband had taken a day off work and I had paid for childcare for the other DC and often also taken a babysitter with me to CAMHS so that DS did not need to listen to parts of our discussions. No one ever apologised for the non attendance or even phoned in advance. They did the same when meant to be visiting school and just didnt turn up and for home visits!! Whatever you do don't do what we did and complain about any professionals involved in the process as they can they raise child protection concerns in revenge and document lies which you may never know about.

OMG - that is awful. I hope you and your family are ok.

They phoned today and offered me a cancellation appoint for next week - very inconvenient but I accepted it of course. So we will see.

How an organisation can run in this day and age treating people like this is incredible.

well, we've been seen - and more notes taken. Now we wait to be allocated a follow up appoint.