· How can the service be requested?
You can be referred to us by your pediatrician or GP from the Primary Care Centre, through a referral form, or by other specialized services of the healthcare network (Early Childhood Care and Development Centre CDIAP, Educational Psychology Teams EAP, Social Services, school psychologist….)
· What documents do I need?
Health card, DNI (National Identity Document) and referral form or report, as well as any documents relating to any previous neurological, psychiatric or psychological examinations.
· Who is in the healthcare team?
The CSMIJ team is made up of a multi-professional team of doctors, psychiatrists, clinical psychologists, social workers and administrative staff, who are there to ensure your professional, confidential and personalized care.
· How long do treatments take?
Treatment durations may vary depending on the reasons for coming to the centre and the results of the diagnostic and prognostic assessment. After this assessment you can ask the therapist how long they estimate the treatment will take.
· Do both parents have to come to a first visit?
It is best that both parents come as they can offer a wider vision of their child’s problem and capacities as well as their own evaluation of the situation.
· And if the parents are separated, do they still have to come together?
If the parents are separated, they can come separately. They can also request diagnostic or follow-up appointments for the child directly with the relevant staff member.
· What will I be asked on the first appointment?
The clinical professional will ask why you have come and, firstly, will perform a psychodiagnostic examination by asking questions. If they consider it appropriate they may also give the patient a test and questionnaires to complete, as well as, on occasion, an additional examination to complete the diagnosis.
They may also ask for details of the patient’s developmental history and the family structure.
· What happens in the parent groups?
The groups constitute an additional tool to the personalized or individual care offered with the family and/or child.
The parent groups enable you to share with and learn from other families who are in a similar situation: concerns, worries and recommendations.
· What happens in the children’s groups?
The children’s groups offer the same benefits. Identifying and sharing with other children in a similar situation can help them to feel better. In terms of observation, for the therapists, it is of great help to see how the child relates with their peers. To learn techniques such as social skills it is essential that these are worked through in group sessions.
· If I am seen by a psychiatrist, does this indicate that the situation is more serious?
In our institution you may be seen first by a psychologist or a psychiatrist regardless of your child’s symptoms. A referral to a psychiatrist by a psychologist is not a sign that the situation is any more serious either.
· If I am seen by a psychiatrist, will they prescribe medication?
This situation often arises and does not directly mean that are you will be given medication. Sometimes, in collaboration with the family, it may be decided that this is the best strategy, in combination with psychotherapy. On other occasions, these visits will simply be to attain an additional assessment of your child’s mental health.
· If I am an adolescent, can I be seen in an emergency even if I am not carrying my health card?
Normally, to be attended to in our centres, users must be carrying their health card, but if it is an emergency, the user’s clinical condition prevails over bureaucracy.
· If I need a report, what do I have to do?
We only provide healthcare reports. Reports can only be requested by a legal guardian or, if of legal age, the patient.
· What happens if I don’t want my child to be seen but the other parent does?
Our professionals will perform an initial diagnosis. If the diagnosis is not serious, then the parents must come to an agreement on the need for the child to receive treatment. This is of great importance for the success of the treatment.
An appointment can be made with a professional for advice on this issue.
