13 year old, female, lying, poor grades

How to find cause of child who lies not to keep from getting in trouble about anything, just makes up lies about everything? Lies about grades, refuses to tell father grades. Lies about just about everything. Even when confronted by counselor with the father sitting there denies knowing she was failing two classes all year.  Counselor solution - quick fix - child should live with the father, not the mother..... First visit observation? Child even lies about personal hygiene, and in fact, has to be told to brush her teeth.  I wonder about drug use, father refuses to think she could be experimenting. I keep saying obvious low self esteem issues, but father does not even confront her when he knows she is lying, so of course this perpetuates the lying. (My opinion). Doesn't just lie to parents, but others as well about anything and everything.  Help. Where to go for answers.  Father is taking her to a counselor, but not psychologist. Should one be seeking a child psychologist?

[Kevin Kennedy, Ph.D.]

Dear Sara,

The traditional mental health disciplines include clinical psychology, clinical social work, psychiatric nursing and psychiatry. For diagnosis and treatment of the mental and emotional disorders, it's best to be seen by a clinician from one of these four disciplines. It's not necessary in your case for the child to be seen by a child psychologust - it's one option.

Now, there are also other peole who provide counseling services. Examples of these are school guidance counselors, marraige/family therapists (who are not necessarily members of one of the four traditional disciplines), pastoral counselors, etc. Depending on the need, such people can be perfectly appropriate resources.

It's always important to inquire about the credentials of a therapist, including educational credentials, professional cerifications, experience and local or state licensing credentials.

[Rub9il1]

A related discussion, Giving teen to much freedom was started.