My Blog

My WordPress Blog

206-304-1954
mayda@innerwellcounseling.com
  • Home
  • Contact
    • About
  • Art Therapy
    • Classes
    • Cremation Urns
  • Services
    • FAQ’s
    • Reading List
    • National Health Links
  • Groups
  • Working with Families
  • Client Forms
  • Gallery
  • Blog

Working with Families

With children: Children live in a family system. Even when the child’s behavior is due to biological issues or trauma, it is essential to involve the parents in making sure they are providing the best support for the child and themselves. I start with a behavioral approach: assess family’s and child’s strengths first, then looking at schedules, rules of the house, food habits, sleep schedule, how the family spends time together, who sets who off and the working relationship with the school.

Some parents need information and support in understanding their child’s disability or mood disorder and how this affects their development. Some parents need to realize they are doing a pretty darn good job considering the circumstances. Counseling provides that extra support and perspective to keep up the good work and get the oomph to do a little more which will be hard in the beginning but pay off in the long run.

It’s my job, to keep the long term vision clearly stated and cheer the parents on as they make the hard but important decisions to make changes. I usually tell the kids (who are resentful about coming) that as soon as they have gone three months without any major transgressions (which can be redefined along the way- you can increase the expectation), they can be done with counseling. It usually takes 3-4 weeks to establish a new behavior and about 3 months for the new behavior to become more habit. That doesn’t rule out set backs, which are a natural part of change. And that’s for the parents as well as the kiddo!

With teens, if they over 13, they get to decide how much they want to interact with their parents, if at all. I usually request that the teen allow me to discuss her needs with her parent at least initially. Some teens are relieved to have the therapist provide coaching to their parent while others are opposed to this. It depends a great deal on defining what confidentiality means and that the teen knows that details will not be divulged unless there is a serious concern. Intakes with teens usually include the parent for the first 30 minutes and then the rest just with the teen.

On Parenting:

  • The Explosive Child: A New Approach for Understanding and Parenting Easily
  • Frustrated, Chronically Inflexible Children by Ross W. Greene
  • Firespitters by Gary Benton
  • Is it you, Me, or Adult ADD? by Gina Pera
  • Understanding Girls with ADHD by Nadeau, Littman & Quinn
  • Taking Charge of Adult ADHD by Russell A. Barkley
  • 1-2-3 Magic: Effective Discipline for Children by Thomas W. Phelan
  • Easy to Love, Difficult to Discipline: The Seven Basic Skills for Turning Conflict into Cooperation by Becky Anne Bailey, Rebecca Anne Bailey
  • Setting Limits With Your Strong-Willed Child: Eliminating Conflict By Establishing Clear, Firm, And Respectful Boundaries by Robert J. Mackenzie, Robert J. MacKenzie
  • PTSD Workbook for Teens by Libbi Palmer, PsyDOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA
  • The BDD Workbook by James ClaibornOLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA

 

Madeleine F. Taney M.A., M.Ed., LMHC, ATR-BC
OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA 31811 Pac Hwy S. B-183
Federal Way, WA 98003

206-304-1954
mayda@innerwellcounseling.com
- American Art Therapy Association
- American Counseling Association
- American Mental Health Counselor Association
By submitting this form via this web portal, you acknowledge and accept the risks of communicating your health information via this unencrypted email and electronic messaging and wish to continue despite those risks. By clicking "Yes, I want to submit this form" you agree to hold Brighter Vision harmless for unauthorized use, disclosure, or access of your protected health information sent via this electronic means.
  • 31811 Pac Hwy S. B-183
    Federal Way, WA 98003
  • 206-304-1954  |  mayda@innerwellcounseling.com
Copyright © 2015 Inner Well Counseling  |  Bright Site by Brighter Vision

Copyright © 2023 · Genesis Child on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in