Grandparents Raising Children Support Group

This community is dedicated to grandparents who are the primary caregivers of their grandchildren. In cases where the parents are not willing or able to provide adequate care for their children, grandparents may take on the role of primary caregivers. Join the support group to find support, share your experience, and get advice from other members.

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/ Grandparents Raising Children Support Group

If at first you don't succeed...

SaraBT
SaraBT
We made an appointment for our eldest granddaughter to get counseling. OMG, was it a disaster! At the second session -- THE SECOND SESSION -- the counselor told me that the kids would be better off living with their mother!!!! The chickie hadn't even gotten to know us that well!!!

So I called the family services agency I work with (I think I mentioned it in another thread) and got a new counselor.

We just had our first session this morning, and my granddaughter made more progress in the first 10 minutes than in two hours with the former witch!

My granddaughter thought it was wonderful that the counselor got her to say stuff "before I could stop myself." She just adores the counselor, and I think she'll make great strides during the next few months. She's already said so much more about her feelings than I've ever heard before.

We left smiling and laughing and high-fiving -- the right counselor can make SUCH a difference!

Bottom line: If you don't think you're getting anywhere with your counselor, try another. The difference for us was like night and day!
mynanny4
mynanny4
I agree they have to find someone they "click" with or it won't work. The first counselor my gd had only wanted to talk about shopping and fashion and gd got nothing from her but when we ask for another one she got a wonderful young man who helped her a lot. Hope it helps your gd.
GMJan
GMJan
Sara that is great news. My granddaughter went to the only local counselor for children for several years and every time I would question something my gd was doing her stock comment was "that is what these kids do". Gd is ADHD and was very neglected by bio mom before I got custody. I knew what these kids do because we were living it, I needed help to fix it. I finally quit the counseling and she is doing as well if not better. She not need a counselor excusing her behavior. However the teen years are coming up, so I may be looking for help again. I hope your gd continues to make progress and your kids are blessed to have you in their lives.
GMaWilli
GMaWilli
Wow, Sara.....that 1st counselor was an idiot!! Does she have a superior you could report her too? I wonder how many naive' families she has destroyed!!! So glad you found a good one!!!!!
daisydduck
daisydduck
One bad seed can spoil everything. Glad you didn't put up with it. Counselors are licensed by the state and you can go to website and formally complain, which I think you would be right to do. I bet the counselor has a messed up life herself! Glad the second one worked out well
SaraBT
SaraBT
We'd been concerned about our eldest's cutting, and of course we came up with all sorts of reasons - she feels bad about herself, she's trying to live up to impossible standards, you name it.

The new counselor asked how long it's been since she cut, and she said 60 days.

The counselor asked what her triggers were, and of course we got the "I don't know" answer.

Then she asked: When was the last time your mother visited? And our granddaughter's eyes got really big, and she said: "Wow, about 60 days."

BINGO! Occam's Razor wins again.

Now we have to figure out how to handle Pinky...sigh.