Psychologists who are truly FASD-informed are very important when it comes to diagnosing and helping people who have FASD. A psychologist is part of a multidisciplinary team of medical professionals who help figure out if someone has FASD and what it means. A pediatrician, a psychiatrist, a speech and language pathologist, a social worker, and an occupational therapist may also be on the team.
The psychologist and the others on the team mostly look at how the brain works and if there are any mental disorders. Usually, the pediatrician or doctor is in charge of figuring out how someone looks. All of the team members must have been trained in how to test for and diagnose FASD.
After a person has been diagnosed with FASD, the team that did the diagnosis will make a treatment plan for them that includes health therapies. Patients may also get different kinds of psychotherapy in addition to speech and occupational therapy.
People with FASD often have trouble with executive functioning, adaptive behaviour, memory, and communication, which can make it hard for them to do everyday things. Different people with FASD deal with these problems in different ways, so there is no one treatment that will help everyone. Mental health professionals need to treat each person as an individual and make a treatment plan that takes into account each person’s strengths and weaknesses.
Mental Health and FASD
People with FASD don’t always do well with traditional therapies that try to help with mental health problems. People with FASD may have trouble understanding what is being said, following directions, and using what they have learned in the real world. Treatments for mental health need to take into account each person’s strengths and problems in order to work.
So, mental health professionals need to take a diagnosis of FASD into account when making plans for treatment. The most effective ways to treat mental health are those that look at the whole person. These include skill-building in the direction of good health.
The best way to treat and help people with FASD is to understand their unique strengths, abilities, and problems. People with FASD do well in life if their needs and problems are taken care of early on and they have access to supports that last into adulthood.
When they are FASD-informed and trained, psychologists can help people with FASD live lives that are full and satisfying.