Fredericksburg Parent

www.FredericksburgParent.NET 17 Join us for the live conversation on Stay tuned to the Fredericksburg Parent & Family YouTube and Facebook channels this month for a video interview with Compass Counseling Services Facebook: @fredericksburgparent • Twitter: @FredParent Instagram: @fredparentmagazine a sk t h e e x p e rt Q: How else does Compass Counseling support parents? We have a specific parent training curriculum that is covered in meetings with the parent that the child does not have to be present for. In these meetings, we talk about the principles of behavior, the foundations of ABA, and specific examples of behaviors we have observed in their child. We're really trying to work with the parent to get to the root of what is driving these behaviors. So, if your child had a tantrum at the store, what happened before it? How did you respond? What usually happens in that situation? We are trying to figure out what the child was trying to get from the tantrum and identify ways the parents can encourage different behaviors by changing the way they respond in those situations. Q: Do I need to have a certain parenting style or philosophy to succeed with ABA? No. Our clinicians want to understand your priorities, philosophies and routines as a family as much as possible in order to offer strategies that are going to be repeatable and successful in your household. The best thing parents can do is to be as open with us as possible from the beginning. Sometimes parents may not understand or agree with what we are asking them to do. In those cases it's important that they are able to tell us what is going on. We have clinicians on staff who speak both English and Spanish. One of the values of Compass is honest communication between clinician and parent and I think that always helps children progress. Q: How long does ABA treatment last, and how frequently are children being seen? We typically see children for a minimum of three sessions per week. Lots of children come in five days a week. The average dura- tion that someone stays with us is a year, although we do have some clients with more significant needs who have been with us for three or four years. Q: Does a child need to have a diag- nosis to work with Compass? Compass is a Medicaid-only provider, and we do need a diagnosis for services, but we are able to assist with getting a diagnosis if appropriate. We are able to provide provi- sional diagnosis for children who meet criteria and are waiting to obtain a full evaluation from a developmental specialist or psychologist in order to get services started. Q: How have your services evolved to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic? As with all kinds of providers, we have taken very seriously the need to keep our families safe and healthy, and we have adapted as caseloads in our area have risen and fallen. We provide our services in clients' homes, and our clinicians take all precautions, including mask- ing, and making sure that toys are cleaned regularly and not cross- contaminated between clients. Parents of children with special needs have been a particularly hard-hit group during the pandemic. What would you want these fami- lies to keep in mind? We love all the families we work with and we are so grateful for their participation. We are in their homes and we see how hard they work every day. I would just say, don't be hard on yourself if things aren't going the way you want them to with your child. Everybody is doing their best with the tools they have right now. We hope that our ser- vices can help parents to feel that they aren't alone on this journey, and that they aren't the only person working for their child's success and progress. To learn more, or to get in touch, visit compassva.com. Compass Counseling Services is a Medicaid-funded provider serving individuals in the Fredericksburg area, including Spotsylvania, Stafford Caroline and King George counties and the city of Fredericksburg. Compass has also recently expanded to serve the Culpeper area. Sponsored Material The parent is the backbone of our services. The parent is the backbone of our services. The parent is the backbone of our services.

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