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From: Ellen-Marie Silverman
Date: 16 Oct 2012
Time: 08:19:52 -0500
Remote Name: 76.228.192.184
[[I was wondering if there is any way to try and get the person to want to come to therapy or to get them to understand the benefits they can get from going? Also as an SLP, I am sure that you have ran into children who have not wanted to be at therapy, how did you go about handling that? Did you talk to the parents at all? Would you suggest that if a parent knows the child is not wanting to come, to wait for them to be ready to go to therapy?]] Kara, many share your concerns, and a small smattering of all those who do have already posted them above. So, please take a look at what I have suggested to these people. Perhaps, you will find some information in my responses that will help you form a working position regarding these matters. >>> I would like to add to what I have already written for others (actually for all --- the questions and responses are available for any interested person to read) that by listening carefully to what a child has to say as a reason for not wanting to participate in therapy (listening with eyes and heart as well as ears) informs me as to whether establishing a therapeutic relationship is possible at the time or not. And, if I believe it is not, I will make suggestions to the caregivers as to what I think might be an alternative route to resolve the problem, which may be theirs as much as the child's. In other words, if a child is showing troublesome behavior that may benefite from intervention but unable to directly participate in therapy, then I need to consider what the appropriate options may be to help the child behave in a more satisfying way and make those suggestions to the caregivers. In no way, should the child related to in a punitive way for an unwillingness to participate in therapy. >>> That is my current position. I am sure you will find one that suits you as a speech-language pathologist. Sincerely, Ellen-Marie Silverman