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I think you're conflating multiple factors here, mainly psychiatry and parenting. Child psychiatry is an extreme because the patient is most often not the one m

I think you're conflating multiple factors here, mainly psychiatry and parenting. Child psychiatry is an extreme because the patient is most often not the one making decisions (which they're often not capable of anyway). Much of the time, the patient hasn't even really figured out what their "normal" is before their parents stick them with a professional. Many parents, especially when looking at-risk demographics, look to psychiatry as an easy fix so that's what the doctors give them. The parents often can't afford to take time to drive their child to a psychiatrist twice a month let alone pay for the sessions. The end result is that psychiatry stuck in a terrible ethical spot, where their duty to treat not just symptoms but causes clashes with the realities where the parents are at the end of their rope. Are doctors stewards of health, responsible for the patient? Or are they professionals that have to meet their clients half way? I don't think there is an easy answer to that question. Obviously there are many unethical and incompetent psychiatrists but my experience in California (as an adult) stands in stark contrast to all the horror stories I hear about child psychiatry from school administrators. As usual, there is a massive wealth gap and your mileage will vary.

S-E-P 8y ago
A lot of the kids we've dealt with parents are typically incarcerated, dead, or no longer have custody of their children. In our area sexual abuse is one of the main issues, usually these kids live with relatives(after the conviction) who are usually the most well off in the family. They still by in large get the short end of the stick even though the relatives/guardians try to work with psychiatrists, but we've heard how that goes. That's often how they end up with us, they (the relatives/guardians) bring their troubled kids to us for actual help, not just medication. But hey I don't mind, we do better work (at least in our area), bring 'em all. Gets more kids off of substance abuse, gets them connected to people who care about them, and more times than not equips them to help their families and community by in large. And we don't even get paid (all voluntary), and that's how I prefer it.
- akiselev 8y ago
  Is your org more of a last resort for these guardians so they go to psychiatrists first or is it a discoverability problem in general? Since you're all volunteering, I'm curious if the simple removal of the profit motive is enough to change the way all parties involved approach treatment or if its a matter of just having more time to devote per person (because the limit becomes your time and patience instead of their checkbook).
  - S-E-P 8y ago
    No, it's for any at risk kid, and many do come first. Most likely discovery since that would take a lot more energy and money. Since there isn't really any motive to reach a solution, and no harm no foul if it doesn't work out. No one's going to really hold us to anything since it doesn't cost them anything more (sometimes less since we will pay for what they need when they are with us, none of that gets reimbursed).
Spooky23 8y ago
The other thing is that the parents are often part of the problem. I’ve seen a couple of “monster” children in my kids school who are highly disruptive and have some obvious issues that will be very difficult as they get older. It’s pretty obvious why when you see the parents in action.
- S-E-P 8y ago
  That's very common. Why would they act any differently, they've seen how their parents treat others, that's their model, even if it's a terrible one. And interestingly enough, even those that despise their parents will still emulate their behavior, that's something I just don't get

S-E-P 8y ago

A lot of the kids we've dealt with parents are typically incarcerated, dead, or no longer have custody of their children. In our area sexual abuse is one of the main issues, usually these kids live with relatives(after the conviction) who are usually the most well off in the family. They still by in large get the short end of the stick even though the relatives/guardians try to work with psychiatrists, but we've heard how that goes. That's often how they end up with us, they (the relatives/guardians) bring their troubled kids to us for actual help, not just medication. But hey I don't mind, we do better work (at least in our area), bring 'em all. Gets more kids off of substance abuse, gets them connected to people who care about them, and more times than not equips them to help their families and community by in large. And we don't even get paid (all voluntary), and that's how I prefer it.

akiselev 8y ago
Is your org more of a last resort for these guardians so they go to psychiatrists first or is it a discoverability problem in general? Since you're all volunteering, I'm curious if the simple removal of the profit motive is enough to change the way all parties involved approach treatment or if its a matter of just having more time to devote per person (because the limit becomes your time and patience instead of their checkbook).
- S-E-P 8y ago
  No, it's for any at risk kid, and many do come first. Most likely discovery since that would take a lot more energy and money. Since there isn't really any motive to reach a solution, and no harm no foul if it doesn't work out. No one's going to really hold us to anything since it doesn't cost them anything more (sometimes less since we will pay for what they need when they are with us, none of that gets reimbursed).

Spooky23 8y ago

The other thing is that the parents are often part of the problem. I’ve seen a couple of “monster” children in my kids school who are highly disruptive and have some obvious issues that will be very difficult as they get older. It’s pretty obvious why when you see the parents in action.

S-E-P 8y ago
That's very common. Why would they act any differently, they've seen how their parents treat others, that's their model, even if it's a terrible one. And interestingly enough, even those that despise their parents will still emulate their behavior, that's something I just don't get