FAMILY MENTAL WELLNESS
The power of neurodiversity When encouraging a child to understand how their own brain works, Lacey uses a variety of tools, including interacting with a physical model of a brain or examining a poster depicting a green fish swimming among a school of goldfish. “I tell them, ‘I’m just like you,’” Lacey said. “‘We’re green fish. We can swim around with the goldfish, but we’re different. We’re super cool, super smart, but no one understands how we work.’ It gives the child permission to be proud of how unique they are.” In addition to giving kids confidence, Lacey also sees parents develop a sense of relief after understanding the underlying causes and seeing a path to improving their children’s brain health. Even if the Assessment Tool does not reveal a specific diagnosis, it may help identify other neurodiverse factors that could be addressed. IBH is working to make the Diagnostic Assessment Tool available across the country so parents anywhere can access it to coordinate with their local providers in getting the most effective treatment for their child. “Having the results of this assessment gives parents peace of mind and empowers them with a way forward for their child,” said Lacey. For more information, visit IBHealth.co or call 405-702-9032.
Moving forward With the 18-page, 250-question Assessment Tool, IBH can provide recommendations for evidence-based treatments and can bridge the gap between standard psychotherapy intake assessments and often more expensive full- psychological assessments. The team at IBH can then implement treatment plans in-house to reduce the need for families to bounce from specialist to specialist. Supplementing medication received from medical providers, IBH develops treatment plans that address a variety of everyday factors that can make a difference for neurodiverse children, including exercise, motor function, language skills, sleep hygiene, extracurricular activities, technology habits and nutrition. “Treatment for ADHD requires more than medication alone,” Lacey said. “Medication is like one leg of a six-legged table. In psychoeducation with the parents, the most important thing is that parents gain an understanding of how to best support their child and implement necessary changes in their daily lives.” That parental education was as vital to Molli Grove as the treatment her son received through IBH. “To say he was on a collision course with life and the law is an understatement,” said Grove of her son, who was diagnosed with ADHD and ODD. “He could not control his impulsivity or his compulsions. I did not have any idea how to support him.” From the team at IBH, Grove learned the importance of nutrition, sleep and monitoring her son’s screen time. Grove also appreciated the holistic support her family received during her son’s IEP meetings, with the hospital intake team when her son became suicidal and with her son’s psychiatrist to ensure his needs were met. “My son is a different person,” said Grove of his transformation. “He is med free today, thriving, preparing for his next chapter.”
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / JAN-FEB 2023 29
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