I have found that repeated conferencing works: once a week, same time, same place...because it makes me so exhausted...because the child is generally so unhappy...you can never the same thing too many times in these cases. Assessment doesn't fix it. The problem stays. And medication or follow-up is only as reliable as the person who is caring for them. Sometimes the results and illnesses that follow after medication is administered is gruelling and not a positive experience at all...will they stick with it until they get things right? Will a ten year old cooperate? Is it the right thing to do...but late? (sadly the benefits of early intervention are so much higher). On the upside: diagnosis of a problem often brings support. The parents often do not realise how much it impacts their own lives and their childs or anothers...because for them, this is normal. They cope..however low that may be...they don't see it as low...they are doing the best that they can.
However, when things do begin to get better...what a blessing it is for everyone. Persist. They don't have to like you. It may not bring the positive results that everyone so wishes for. But that doesn't mean that the attempt to help is not worthwhile. The poor little kid lives it 24 hours a day. Realise that they probably have attempted to seek help and they may need assistance with that: encourage them to seek school support: behavioural checklists, letters to take with them, a referral from a general practitioner and very detailed information on his behaviour so that they get the support they need...they may not be the best communicators and accurate information is important.
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