In the world of special needs moms, psychiatrist is sometimes a dirty word. It conjures up images of egomanics who won’t listen to knowledgeable parents and totally misunderstand our children’s disorders…and continue to tinker and tinker with the medications and dosages.

LuLu has been seeing her psychiatrist for the last four years…and our experience couldn’t be more positive. I know, because others tell me all the time, just how lucky we are. We saw LuLu’s psychiatrist today. She is such a dear. She listened to me and to LuLu before making the obvious observation that LuLu seems really stuck lately.

So, even though we usually don’t change medications or dosage on our visits, she recommended upping one of the medications a bit, especially since Libby has grown significantly in the last 18 months since that med had been adjusted.

We found this wonderful doctor through a “shot in the dark”. I had spoken with three different psychiatrists; two I didn’t think I would like and one who flat out told me that “LuLu is out of my league.” I appreciated his honesty at his limitations; but was also dismayed to know yet again what a challenge my child is on all fronts.

In a near panic, I emailed Dr. Daniel Amen of the Amen Clinics, asking him if I should travel to one of his clinics for a consult, but explaining that we had just sunk a great deal of our savings into a neurofeedback intensive and that while I was totally open to SPECT scans and traveling to see the right doctor, I just wondered if there was anyone in the Atlanta area who he could recommend. As fate would have it, Dr. Amen has presented earlier that month in Atlanta and had met and been impressed with our psychiatrist. His first impressions were accurate.

But never more sure was I that we LOVE our psychiatrist than during the nearly three full days of testimony (and repeated subpoenaed harassment) that she endured for LuLu’s due process hearing. This doc was front and center as our main expert witness and she handled it all with such grace and confidence. And she continues to be a staunch supporter and ally.

I have no words of wisdom about how to find a psychiatrist as great as ours. I do believe they exist though. But I would do the same thing I always do when searching for members of LuLu’s “healing team”. I would look for people who listen to you, are ready for the challenge of your child’s unique disabilities, and are willing to work along side other professionals.