When a young person is struggling due to mental health issues, it has negative effects throughout the family system. Parents can feel isolated, frustrated, and overwhelmed. Siblings can feel like they have taken a back seat to accommodate the teen or young adult’s challenges. It goes without saying that parents are a key piece of the puzzle to successful, deep rooted changes for the young person and the family.
What Parent involvement Looks Like at a Therapeutic treatment program
Weekly family therapy( virtual or in person): Parents typically join their child for weekly family therapy to work on family system's issues and have family focussed treatment goals.
Family workshops( in person): Workshops include the client and other families involved with the program. This offers on opportunity to dig a little deeper and build a supportive community for parents and siblings.
Parent Coaching and Support:( virtual) Provided by a licensed professional. focussed on parenting skills and strategies.
parent support groups(virtual): An opportunity to connect with other parents involved with the program and develop a supportive, like minded community.
Psychoeducation( virtual or in person) : A variety of topics presented to parents and siblings to provide a better understanding of mental health conditions, symptoms and effective support techniques.
Scheduled visits( in person): An opportunity to practice skills that are being learned and identify ongoing family needs. Visits often start with parents visiting their child and then home visits are planned.
The Benefits of Parent Involvement
Research shows that parent participation and engagement in their teen and young adults treatment significantly increases positive, lasting outcomes.
You will learn some new skills in parenting and supporting your child. discovering and developing new communication skills is helpful for everyone in the family
Parents Develop a better understanding of what their child is going through, their perspective and how to best support and parent them. More effective parenting as a result.
Provides consistency once your child returns home. What happens in family therapy is then practiced on visits and at home, reinforcing new skills and strategies.