I was finally straightforward, with ST

I don't think I told you guys, but I'm a bit dissapointed with Wil's ST. We've seen her every week since February and I feel that each session is the same as the last. No progression, no plan. I know its a slow process, but I really wish she were more structured. It often feels like she is just someone that comes into my house once a week to play with my kid. I spoke to a good friend of mine who's son went through the same service as Wil and OMG...her ST did so much more than our's does!! She would bring handouts with a list of things the mom should work on during the week. It was very structured, where the mom always knew what they were working on for the week, plus they would always start with an exercise of some kind, like blowing cotton balls across the table with a straw. Our ST does NOTHING like this. She just sits and observes Wil playing most of the time, talks with him a little, plus she is ALWAYS late.

So today at our session, the ST asked me if I thought Wil was getting better because of what I had been working on with him for the week or if it was just coincidence. And I told her I wasn't sure. She sorta rolled her eyes at me like she was annoyed...So I felt like that was the perfect opportunity to tell her what I thought. Nicely. But I told her "I need to be honest with you. I need you to be more direct with me when it comes to what I need to work on with him. Do you have worksheets or something that can help remind me what I should be doing, because with two kids, I'm busy and its hard to focus on what I need to do with him each week when it's not clear at all during our session." She seemed surprised, but then thanked me for being honest. So she wrote a bulleted list of what I should do, went over it in detail, even told me how Wil has actually progressed...which gosh, getting positive feedback really helps. I instantly felt like a weight has lifted. I feel like we're actually getting somewhere now. Yeah!

Just thought I'd share....

glad you got some positive feedback!

Could you maybe report her to someone for her attitude though, seems very unprofessional?

This post has been edited by ZandersMama on Jun 1 2007, 02:29 PM

I'm glad you got that off your chest! Sounds like it really helped. Good job

I may call the organization she works for and just let them know a few details, like the part that she is always late. Its just hard because this is a free service to me, state funded ST. So who wants to complain when its free, kwim?

So far the list she made me has helped a ton! Just last night DH and I were going over the list together and BOTH working on what she wrote. I'm going to see if she changes any at our next visit and then if not, I will contact her supervisor. I feel that I gave her a bit of a warning that I wasn't too happy, so I think maybe that clued her in some. I just wish I had known ahead of time that she took a more "natural" approach. She kept telling me that yesterday, and although I'm all for most things natural, when it comes to therapy or education, I want structure - some type of plan!

I can see why you'd want some structure. I mean, wasn't what you were doing before her introduction pretty much the "natural approach." And if Wil needs the help, he should get the help. Before it becomes a larger issue.

That's exactly how I feel Kelly, thanks for the support. DH and I don't totally agree. He thinks ST is a great idea, but he's sorta with his parents about all kids do things on their own time. I'm not for pushing my child by any means, but I want a clue in on what we're going to be doing at each session, plus some ways I can work with him when she's not there. Sortof like a lesson plan.