Free Initial Assessment for Parents of Children and Adolescents Exhibiting Behavioural or Emotional Disorders

Are you a parent, or carer of a child who is beginning to exhibit behavioural and emotional problems or disorders? Perhaps your child has been assessed but you remain unconvinced regarding the diagnosis or therapy? Are you trying to get help for him/her but finding it difficult?

I am currently offering, (free of charge), an on-line, history taking and initial assessment. From this you maybe well able to take immediate action of benefit for your child.

The current pandemic is creating all sorts of problems for health care. The NHS is focused on Covid 19, its control and treatment. In the meantime other conditions including child mental health (CAMHS) operate restricted services with extended delays.

Taking a Full History – why take full history?

Taking a full history is the first and essential stage in identifying why your child is acting as they do. Remember your child’s behaviour may not have a “mental” aspect. Thus sending your child to CAMHS would be a waste of time and be ineffective. It may well start your child on an irrelevant treatment regime.

In a case of physical illness or concern we always take a full history. Why not in child and adolescent mental health?

Methodology (How I Work): I do not see the child/adolescent. My online history taking will be with you the parent/carer. I do this as only you, the parent/carer, has knowledge of the child/adolescent from birth to present.

The goal of the history taking is identify key issues/stages of possible concern. In particular to identify the “nature of the problem to be addressed”.  For example a child/adolescent maybe aggressive. Although the problem is experienced as “aggression,” we do not know the cause or “drivers” of the behaviour. In my experience it is very easy to assume we understand the causes of behaviour when we do not.

Behaviour and emotional states can be generated by a multitude of causes, physical ill health, sensory underdevelopment, family friction, environment, prescribed medication, deficiencies in interpersonal comprehension, coercive environments, to name but a few. However a detailed history taking can begin to reveal specifics that can be either, dealt with immediately or give clear indication as to the exact form of professional intervention required.

Mine is a research based approach. As an Adviser/Researcher I start with a “blank sheet” and make no assumptions about you or your child. I follow the evidence trail as it emerges from our conversation and discussion. Parents often find it a positive and helpful experience in its own right. It helps them clarify their understanding of what has been happening and is currently going on.

How to access this Service. Send me an email to Shircore@healthpromotion.uk.com  Facebook me a message or call me on 07943 404 388. Describe the issues and your concerns and we shall assess whether I can be of help.

Biography: I have been involved with child and parent support for over 30 years and developed my own Pathway of Assessment when I found none existed for Child and adolescent Mental Health. This situation is unlike Physical Medicine where every conditions has its own assessment and treatment pathway.

I have a Masters in Health Promotion and Public Health and I am a Fellow of the Royal Society for Public Health. I have written and presented extensively on this subject.

Much of my work is open to scrutiny by logging on to any internet search engine and inputting my name.

I look forward to being of service.

Richard S. Shircore B.Sc., M.Sc. FRSPH