CARE FOR PARENTS
WHY IS IT NECESSARY?
We have experienced and documented the clear necessity to include the family members of an adolescent in treatment. Our focus with the parents(s) is specifically aimed at the preservation, re-negotiation, and further development of their marital relationship.
Typically, parents are guided by a rational desire for ongoing family stability. They try to adjust to the behavior of their adolescent in order to maintain some sense of balance and family equilibrium. Essentially, as the adolescent becomes more disruptive, the parents usually put more energy into trying to keep the family balanced. As a result, much of the parent’s energy, usually quite emotionally charged, begins to take its toll on the marital relationship. In some instances, the parents view the behavior of their adolescent as a reflection and public symptom of their relationship. Parents may in turn blame each other, defend their own respective views, and eventually avoid each other in subtle ways!
The marital relationship is unique and is separate from the role as parent. Most parents are very aware of their parental relationship, but then tend to overlook the marital relationship as the behavior of their adolescent absorbs more and more of their attention and energy. The adolescent may serve the function as being the most powerful family member while the parental coalition becomes less effective. The parents, as "family executives," may be in their own crises and in need of immediate and specific attention!
Family treatment, as previously discussed, has a threefold emphasis and focus:
(1) helping family members recognize that some adolescent disorders are family illnesses through a process of education, communication and problem solving exercises; (2) assisting the family unit in developing as the primary support and recovery system for the adolescent; and, (3) supporting the parent(s) in the role of "family executive(s)". For out-of-state adolescents, a modified intensive family treatment program for parents will be developed.
In addition, some parent(s) who live a significant distance from the Institute may be required to be physically available on campus from 24 to 72 hours during the intensive 24 hour phase of treatment for their adolescent, one to three times during the course of care.
Parents may receive specific educational reading materials and attend specified groups such as the Parent Survival and Education Group, the Parents' Day [Thursday] program and clinical morning adolescent group. All parents complete a written evaluation reflecting their experiences in these groups. Parents' Day is individually determined and scheduled in advance so that parents can make appropriate work-related or child care accommodations. Mothers and fathers are scheduled so that both parents are not on campus on the same Parents' Day. An exception may be made for out of state parents.
THE PARENT SURVIVAL AND EDUCATION GROUP
Research has shown that parents who are willing to learn, open to change and take responsibility and accountability for their own behavior tend to do better in their therapy and tend to be more effective in their parenting practices.
The Institute’s Parent Survival and Education Group has been evaluated by parents for many years as extremely important, informative and instrumental in their efforts to establish an accurate perspective while engaged in marital and family therapy sessions with their Primary Therapist.
The Parent Survival and Education Group is a parent’s management process and an important educational experience. Parents and invited guests meet for a weekly education session during the 24-hour phase of treatment. This is an open multiple family group meeting where parents are afforded the opportunity to meet other family members at various stages in the treatment process. Each meeting has a general "theme" which may include a tape/film, handout, or presentation by Institute staff members. As an educational experience, the Parent Survival and Education Group will allow each parent the opportunity to learn how to return to the role of "family executive(s)". Parental self-disclosure is optional. Parents are taught how to explore and enhance relationship dynamics, how to challenge-confront-consequence and confirm with their adolescent.
This educational experience requires an open mind and commitment to change. Each parent is required to complete a written feedback questionnaire [3 questions] at the end of each presentation which will be reviewed and utilized by the Primary Therapist to assist you in achieving new concepts and principles of parents, appropriate treatment goals and objectives for your adolescent.
Flaws in problem identification and in problem solving techniques often include denial and the blaming of others, as well as a failure to interrupt beliefs and practices that are ineffective and inefficient. These parental patterns are discussed as are specific adolescent behavior patterns during the Parents’ Survival and Educational Group. This group is mandatory for adolescent residents’ parents!
PROGRAM GOALS
- Alleviate immediate adolescent and family distress by addressing the whole family unit in a comprehensive treatment program.
- Identify adolescent and family system problems and give alternative therapeutic approaches to these problems.
- Re-establish the family as an effective and ongoing problem-solving unit and to avoid a "career of patienthood" for the adolescent.
- Provide educational, recreational and other activities directed to the recovery effort of the adolescent and family system.
- Facilitate the further growth and development of the family system as an effective and efficient problem-solving unit.
