Information for Parents & Guardians

Referrals

We accept referrals for children and adolescents up to their sixteenth birthday.

Medical referrals only are accepted from:

• General Practitioners
• Doctors in Community Care
• Medical specialists in hospitals and clinics

A child or young person may be referred for the following reasons:

• Behavioural difficulties
• Emotional difficulties
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• Family relationship difficulties
• Eating Problems and Disorders: Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia
• Mood Disorders: Depression, Bipolar Mood Disorder
• Psychoses; Early onset schizophrenia
• Autism and Asperger's Syndrome: The Clinic provides multidisciplinary assessments for children presenting with symptoms and behaviours that suggest an Autistic Spectrum Disorder. The Clinic provides limited therapy programmes and support for children with Asperger's Syndrome

• Treatment programmes for children with Autism: The clinic does not provide treatment programmes for children with Autism, Children who are diagnosed as having Autism are referred to another service.
• Educational Psychological Assessments: The Clinic does not provide educational psychological assessments. This service is provided by the National Educational Psychological Service (N.E.P.S.). This service has to be accessed by the parent through the child's school principal.
• Speech and Language and Occupational Therapy Assessments: We do not provide Speech and Language or Occupational Therapy assessments or treatment for children who do not also have emotional or behavioural difficulties.
• Assessments for the purpose of advising in Custody and Access Disputes.

Sometimes parents are not sure what to tell their child. However, it is very important that your child knows that they are coming to talk about what is troubling them and you will have a good idea what to say to your child to reassure him/her. Some good things to say are that we "don't give out" to children and we "don't give injections".

Ideally, we would like to meet with both parents and the child in question. If you do not want to be interviewed together with the child's other parents, please tell us.

When you come to the clinic for your first appointment you will meet either all or some of the Team. You will be asked to fill out some questionnaires - in some cases these will be posted to you beforehand. You and your child will be involved in discussing the problem with the team members. Everyone will be given an opportunity to talk separately. The appointment will last approximately two hours.

Following on from the first appointment very often further, shorter, appointments are arranged. There may be a need to carry out some assessments, perhaps psychological, or speech and language, or occupational therapy.

If, for any reason, you are unable to attend an appointment it is essential that you contact the clinic to let us know. If you cancel in time it will allow us an opportunity to offer the appointment time to another child.

As the Law is currently interpreted, it is not possible for somebody under the age of 18 years old to consent on their own behalf to attendance here, and the consent of their guardians is necessary.

1. If the parents of the child are married, or if they have been married, then the consent of both is necessary. If one parent objects to the attendance of the child, the matter will need to be decided by the Courts. If it is not possible to contact a parent, then please let us know and we can discuss the matter further.

2. If the child's parents are not married, and if the father does not have parental responsibility, then while his consent is not legally essential, his involvement in the process is necessary, if at all possible.

3. If the child/young person is in the care of the HSE (either in foster care or in residential care) consent must also be obtained from the child's Social Worker, as, in this situation, the HSE has parental responsibility.  If a child is in the voluntary care of the HSE, then consent is also required from the child's parents.

It is expected that the assessment will be attended by the child, the child's parents and/or step parent. If the child is in the care of the HSE the foster parents (if applicable) and social worker will also be expected to attend. If this poses particular difficulties, or if there are difficulties obtaining consent please contact the clinic for advice.

If there are difficulties in the relationship between parents whereby they would prefer not to be interviewed together then we can certainly accommodate this as long as we know in advance.

Lucena Clinic services offer a wide range of therapies to children, adolescents parents/carers. Some of these are:

• Group Therapy
• Individual Therapy
• Psychotherapy
• Family therapy
• Play Therapy
• Speech and Language Therapy
• Occupational Therapy
• Specific treatment programmes for particular disorders
• Parenting Courses

Sometimes specific disorders require treatment with Medicines in combination with psychotherapy or a specific treatment programme.

Treatment options are discussed in depth and may only commence with the child's and parent or guardian's consent.