Behavior Problem-Umbrella cockatoo

Question
I've owned my umbrella cockatoo, Reny since she was about 6 months old(Born about spring 1999). Since then her screaming behavior has gotten worse. We cannot be in a room with her without her screaming if we don't cater to her every second. I want to be able to develop a bond with her where she knows that if she's quiet, she gets to spend time with the family(Obviously omitting the "happy cackles", am scream, and pm scream). One dilemma I'm in, and no one seems to know what to do, is...When I get out of work, I try to bring her down in the kitchen with me while I cook dinner. Even if I cook and talk to her, because I'm not looking at her, she screams. So do I...a.}Ignore her and keep her on her T-stand (Which I believe she's thinking, "Hey, if I scream I still get to stay here in the kitchen with the family.") or b.)Bring her back to her cage and cover her up (Which I believe she's thinking, "Hey each time I scream, mommy will pick me up and put me to bed...then she'll wake me up and bring me back down stairs.) I know cockatoos are a noisy bird, and I take that into consideration, but she's DEFINITELY beyond the norm. What should I do to get her screaming under control?

Answer
I think that you are already very sensible and have tried ignoring her at the appropriate times and seem to spend a lot of time with her. Since the problem doesnt seem to be going away maybe it is time to contact a parrot behaviourist in your area who can come out, witness her screaming and then advise you on how to stop it. With your question about the screaming in the kitchen I would go with a (ignoring her) because if you go to her and take her back to her cage that is still attention and she has got what she wants. The cage should never be used as a punishment or time out as its meant to be a safe place for them. It can take months and months of patience to get screaming to stop, if not longer, hopefully with the help of a good behaviourist you can progress, good luck