CAMHS appointment, what should I expect??

[mymatemax]

DS2 has an appointment with CAMHS next week & I'm not really sure what to expect.
he has already been assessed by a Clinical Psych at the CDC for possible ASD & they don't believe that to be an appropriate dx at this time.
Apparently he is too quiet, calm & compliant & they don't believe it to be a developmental condition.
He was born very prem & has CP & GDD although he is catching up but has anxieties & obsessive type behaviours & very routine with a few little quirky behaviours.
Does anyone know what I should expect & how the CAMHS assessment differs to the CDC assessment?
Any info would help as I feel I'm going to this appointment a little ill-prepared.

Not sure i can help really as i don't knkow how the assessment differs, but my own experience of CAMH is that my ds went with similar behaviours to your ds, obsessive and anxious (but also anger). He ended up going for over 2 years on and off (some long periods between appts).

At first, i attended and listened - and sometimes joined in with what they were doing, but then after a discussion, i sat downstairs with a book and left them to it...afterwards, i was not meant to ask ds about the session, just if he was happy with it.

A year on, and i only discussed yesterday that he should start going back as his behaviours have changed again and he needs the support.

They introduced Playtherapy sometime after he started and this involved things like ds having a sandpit and making a story up about it with toy trucks and animals etc. They took pictures so that ds could remember the story - with ds sort of leading the session.

Your first appt will be getting to know the professional working with your ds and then probably a session every fortnight. You can ask all that you need to then or at any time during. Don't worry, hopefully he'll hopefully get all the help he needs.

Thanks choco8
that is reassuring, I think its the dept name that sound alarming. Hopefully we'll see some progress.
I hpe your son gets some more support too!

Thanks Mymatemax, ditto! Let us know how your ds gets on, won't you?