First Week of School

Last year, I accepted the notion that I would not be able to see my clients, at school, the first week of school. After all, it was a hectic week for teachers and staff. I didn't want to "impose," so to speak.

This year, I took a different approach.

I contacted the schools, beginning Monday morning. I introduced myself as a contracted vendor for the school system, asked for the client's teacher's name and extension, and promised to deliver a parent consent on my first visit.

Once I contacted the teacher, I gave the same spiel and asked what time would NOT be convenient. That gave me the flexibility to see the client any other time. As opposed to asking what time WOULD be convenient, which limits a therapist.

If I already had clients from the previous school year, who were at the same school, I focused on seeing them the first couple of days. That was because the school already had a parent consent in place and I already had an established relationship with that school.

This week, being the first week of school, I only offered to do classroom observation. This helped me to see how a client was getting accustomed to a new teacher or school and to develop a baseline of behaviors. This also allowed me to slip in, before getting a schedule, and possibly get some collaboration with the teacher. It was also a chance to get in a new school and/or build rapport with the new teacher. In rare cases, because I was so non-confrontational, a teacher would let me go ahead and pull the student out for therapy.

Today, I dealt with a very inflexible teacher, who had decided to go over the issue with her administrator before getting back with me. She said that I could only see my client during "specials" (music, art, PE, etc.). Because that client happened to be a very easygoing child, I was willing to work with this teacher. Otherwise, I usually do not see my clients during times that they would, otherwise, enjoy. So, hopefully, you will either have a flexible teacher or a flexible client. :-)