Autism in France: Psychoanalysis, Packing, Other Travesties

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Autism is not caused by bad parenting. It is totally wrong that psychoanalysis is the main treatment for autism in France. It is shocking that France is so backward.

Not my words, but Professor Grandin's, in response to the film this thread is about.

I did not say autism was caused by bad parenting. I meant that dr Grandin'smother did not get any help from doctors . She found out the ways to make her daughter a high functionning person. It is thanks to her mother's education that dr Grandin is highfunctionning.

? I didn't say you said autism was caused by bad parenting, I am pointing out using Grandin's own words, written in 2012 that France is behind because analysis is used as a principal treatment modality. It sounds from all the posts and news I have read as if France does not have clear national guidelines about assessment or treatment of autism spectrum disorder.

I am intrigued - but please don't feel you need to reply to the question I posted above - as to what makes you think your analyst ( or was she a qualified clinical psychologist - this would make a great difference in the UK, maybe not in France? ) didn't tell you you were on the spectrum as it wasn't the right time for you to know.

Aspie misunderstanding?

She was a 'psychotherapeute'. Her approach includes other areas than just traditionnal medecine and psychology. This however has no importance to me. Her 'official'qualifications do not interest me. All I value is the fact that she helped me.

@Lyll

The belief that official qualifications and regulations are immaterial when it comes to being helped is an understandable concept, and I do appreciate that you are talking about your own experience.

However.........! !
I do have to state the following :

Using unqualifed people doesn't stand up to scrutiny when there is:

- the need for a diagnosis of a developmental disorder

(I think most people would prefer that an assessment leading to a diagnosis would be carried out by a clinical psychologist, or at least someone who had actually studied modern psychology at a doctorate level, specialising in developmental and cognitive psychology and informed by neuroscience.)

- the need for a diagnosis of a mental health disorder

- the need for a diagnosis of a physical health disorder

Getting 'help' from unqualified workers means that people can run the risk of serious consequences.

Nathalie de Reuck's book cautions against unqualified medical professionals' involvement in the treatment of health problems:

http://www.psyvig.com/default_page.php?menu=1&page=44

I do appreciate that not everyone can agree with my statement above

- probably most alternative therapists, shamans, yogis, naturopaths, reiki masters, Germanic New Medecine enthusiasts, anthroposophists.... the list can go on....

Qualified does not necessarily mean capable. However, qualifications helps most of them to get away with it.
That link is a pure example of people's stupidity and unability to use their brains and common sense.
Conmen are everywhere.
I am saddened to see that if one alternative therapist is labelled a crook, a liar or a danger, people feel the need to believe they all are. Shame this does not work with politicians too.
As you said. I am just sharing my experience. Trying to convince hermetic minds would be useless. Some people will find it helpful, others won't. Some will laugh at it, some might try it. So be it.

http://www.europe1.fr/France/Autisme-la ... ee-980679/



Good news!

I saw it on the news here (France) yesterday. It is a step in the right direction. Someone finally stood up and said that there was no data over the last thirty years to say that the psychoanalytical approach had any beneficial effects treating autism.

France has an excellent medical system (compared to most parts of the World) but it is seriously deficient / backwards in certain areas.

Exactly .......!

So,

If psychoanalysis doesn't have any beneficial effects to show in the treatment of autism, and there has been a massive u-turn from government watchdogs, resulting in their recommendation not to use it,
and given that psychoanalysts insist that they've been doing the best that could probably be done.... and that their theories are fine because they are derived from ancient knowledge and transmitted by enlightened theorists such as Jung and Lacan,
I wonder.........
if
psychoanalysts can be trusted to treat anything?

The thing is, in a country where astrology, medium consultation, numerology, homeopathy and bio-energy healing is put on the same level as clinical psychology and neuroscience, I don't think there is much hope for immediate change....

:0)
( wouldn't trust them to treat my pet fish - how people have allowed them to treat their kids is beyond me...)

i don't think there is much hope either , it's going to take time, 10 more years probably .....
About your last sentence : parents never had a CHOICE. Schools have school psychologists, who send your child to a child psychiatrist if they notice anything odd, and then those people start official "treatment ", and once your child is caught in this machine , removing them constitutes default of care, and they can REMOVE your child from your home , to get him "proper care": psychoanalysis . in the meanwhile you've lost custody.
Is it a little less "beyond you " now?

I was referring to parents who purposefully take their kids to see analysts like this.

Not for one minute was I referring to parents who are forced.

I am aware of the difference.

Oh did you mean NT children? even them.... Some parent purposefully take their child there, of course in cases of sexual abuse, or a divorce, a trauma of some kind....and I bet even in those cases psychoanalysis can be harmful so I see what you mean .

That alligator lecture could go on Saturday Night Live.

I knew the situation with autism wasn't very good but I had no idea it was that bad, scary! Hopefully, there will be some change. I think France is a culture that is borderline obsessive on sticking to the status quo and following social rules and etiquette which makes it hard for french autistic people. I hope in the rest of Europe, people are less ignorant I would think so because France is one of the few developed countries that has this view.

If Alex wants to find the type of nutso Psychiatrists that were in that documentary he is going to have to go to the back woods .... I guess the woman who produced the doc will take him, yes?

The only problems we have had since moving here is how slllllooooowwwww everything is. Also you just need to learn to be pushy. I personally think its funny that people are so SHOCKED about nutty Psychs in France calling Autism Schizophrenia when doctors in the US hand out Risperadal like its candy and parents happily give it to their Autistic children....guess what Risperadal is? Its an ANTI-PSYCHOTIC....so in the US they are "saying" the right things but then giving out a medication that is completely the opposite of what they are calling Autism. What Autism is coming out of their mouth is not what it is in their heads or on their prescription pads.

Im not saying France is perfect, no place is, they have horrible early intervention, next to nothing but they say they are working on it, and many kids with Aspergers dont even get diagnosed, but then, as a few people pointed out, this can be the parents fault. They dont want ANYTHING to be wrong with their children, they only changed how they look at autism a few years ago and even in the US its a horrible thing to parents, they are afraid of it and embarrassed by it. I heard some therapist talking when I was in the US at my sons therapy session and they were talking about a little boy whos parents NEVER let him out of the house as they did not want anyone to see him. That has got to be some sort of abuse, doesnt it??? They talked about how sad it was to watch him with his face pressed against the glass and his Mother or Father grabbing him and scolding the therapist about letting him be near the window.

Autistic people are treated horribly just about everywhere but many places are changing and France is definitely changing for the better. My kids are very happy in their therapy center (SESSAD)....I hate the handicapped place, they drive me bonkers, they pretend to loose everything just to slow what you want to get done down so they dont have to do it, LAZY! My son has some learning disabilities and was getting bullied constantly last year at the public school so they moved him to the school where they help kids with LD's and things like Autism, ADHD, Aspergers, and other behavioral disorders that either have no name or the parent does not like the name. We are sending my daughter there next year to be in the Autism class....she has an aide here in the public school (try getting an aide in the US haha good luck) who is very young and has learned some things about autism but just does not really get it and has not been formally trained. We just got my daughters report card and she has a lot of problems, still she is very very smart so they want to fight us on this but we will win because I am stubborn as heck and I get what I want. My son is VERY happy btw which is a huge difference from last year. Even his teacher said she could tell that he was traumatized when he first came there and after a week he just relaxed.

Also a lot of horrible things happen in the US as some horrible things have happened here. Some kids have died from hypothermia in the idiotic wrapping sessions (why do the sheets need to be wet and cold?....Maybe Alex can find that out). There have been kids beaten and tortured on school buses, the videos are on youtube if you are interested, these are autistic non verbal kids who can not tell their parents or anyone else, these abusers know that (freeking sickos). These things have also happened recently. Also kids have been killed with weighted blankets and people laying on them and pushing their face into the floor. In BC a girl was taken from her father and first put in a mental hospital (shes autistic and verbal) then put in a foster home on so many drugs, Im sure she sits there and drools all day. There are no abuse or any other charges filed against this man. They told him they were taking her as he had another child with autism and he had too much, they were lightening his load????? what???? This is a child not a litter of kittens!

Its ugly all over so dont attack one country because its everywhere and its why we all need to work to change things. Where ever you are, instead of complaining....do something!

liloleme: Thank you for your information.