12-15-2008, 02:19 PM
Each state has an agency that provides services to individuals with mental retardation and developmental disabilities. Without knowing which state you're from I wouldn't know where to refer you. But you could call your local department of social services for a referral.I am a clinician (therapist and behavior specialist) at a health clinic serving that population exclusively, in New York state. There are a number of things I would do if a client were referred to me in this situation. I would find out as many details as possible, assess the reason for the attacking. Often making suggestions for more therapeutic ways of interacting with the individual is enough. Sometimes the individual benefits from counseling (it must be awfully frustrating to be mentally retarded). Sometimes medication is helpful, so a referral to a psychiatrist is necessary. You could call his primary care doctor to ask for a referral to a psychiatrist that specializes in the MR population; most will not prescribe without a referral to a competent therapist or behavior specialist as well.
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