Trusting your gut: Advocating for a childhood OCD Diagnosis

In this week's episode, Kristy Berksza, a mom and former Child Life Specialist, tells us how her experience being a healthcare professional and a parent taught her how to communicate a diagnosis to her own daughter. Maggie, Kristy's daughter, was diagnosed with OCD last year when her refusal to go to school worsened.

Being a former CLS, Kristy has been able to better support Maggie and explain what the diagnosis means for her going forward. Kristy tells us how a mixture of both medication and therapy that she advocated for have helped create a positive difference in Maggie's quality of life!

Timestamps

1:33 - Introduction to Kristy

5:15 - Receiving the OCD diagnosis

11:16 - Communicating the diagnosis to Maggie

19:59 - Treating OCD in Children

23:24 - Maggie's Superpowers

26:50 - Finding Community and Taking Care of Oneself

34:08 - Advocating for your Child's Health

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This podcast is for educational and informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Every child and family is different. Always talk with your child's healthcare team about questions or decisions related to their care.

The experiences and opinions shared by guests are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of their employers, healthcare organizations, or Inside the Children's Hospital.