Counseling: Finding the Best
You've worked with your medical team and talked to your support group, but you still struggle daily with your once-compliant child. It's probably time for more help. Finding the right counselor and helping your child use that person well is a challenge, but it is one worth taking.
Not Everyone Is an Expert
By now, you know that just about everyone out there thinks he or she knows a lot about diabetes. By now, you also know that
If and when you decide your child needs regular counseling, be painstaking in your choice. Talk first to your medical team's social worker, not only to help you find a therapist with some background in diabetes and/or chronic illnesses in children, but also to help you find one who would be a good match for your child. Your social worker should be familiar with the counselors in your area and able to refer you to one who is taking new patients.
If your social worker does not know of a therapist close to you, ask if he will at least help you develop a list of questions to ask any counselor you interview (and the answers you should want to hear). Even better, ask if he'll call a counselor on your child's behalf to discuss the situation and your child's needs and help you decide if this is the right person to help your child.
Essential
If a counselor seems perfect to you on paper, but your child feels differently, respect her feeling and make a change. Your child will need to feel completely comfortable with her counselor. Encourage your child to give a counselor at least three meetings before deciding.
You'll also want to make sure your counselor is open to constructive ideas from you and your medical team. In the end, while the counselor will help your child learn to cope with burnout, you are still the diabetes expert.
Close to Home
Although you may be willing to drive for hours to see a great pediatric endocrinology team, a counselor should be close to home. Your child may be seeing the counselor as much as once a week, and you'll want this to have as little impact on his life as possible. Time in a car both ways can add up.
In order for your child to buy into this help, you'll want it to be as noninvasive as possible. That also means finding a therapist who will meet with your child not just after school, but after (or before) sports or other activities your child loves.
Of course, this is no small task. If you come up empty, ask your child's school psychologist to work with you to find some good leads. But again, don't just go on what she says. Make sure you and your social worker know this counselor understands your child's unique needs.
