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Our Outlook on Helping Children
All treatment at Hanna Perkins is designed to respect the individual.
Accordingly, treatment at Hanna Perkins is based upon helping a child acquire
inner control over feelings, troubles, and behaviors. In our experience,
control is achieved through better knowing oneself and one’s feelings, as well
as through insight and understanding of earlier experiences that may have
aroused intense feelings, conflict, and confusion. Improved inner controls
promote self-respect and encourage progressive personality growth.
When treatment is recommended it is based on a judgment that the child is able to benefit from the treatment and that the parents are able to support it. In fact, parents of children in treatment at Hanna Perkins are part of the treatment team, thinking together with a therapist and applying the understanding that has been gained at home and in other social environments. Following a careful evaluation with one of our associates, parents will receive a recommendation regarding treatment options. Included in this packet is information about the different types of treatment that we provide. When the decision is made to begin treatment, we find it helpful for parents to keep in mind that achieving mastery takes time. Understanding early experiences in an integrated way is a gradual process that can only be accomplished in “bearable bits.” It is helpful to keep in mind that some symptoms will not be alleviated immediately. But through close collaboration between parents, child, and therapist, we can better understand the difficulties and work at the child’s pace toward healthier behavior and development. A child’s behavior always serves a purpose, even if that purpose is not immediately apparent. A persistent symptom may result from an overused coping mechanism that was originally helpful to the child. Therefore, we are careful to respect the child’s need to go slowly while work is getting underway. We find that progress is regularly marked by back and forth changes in a child’s symptoms and when parents and/or a child feel discouraged by inevitable setbacks, it is best to discuss these concerns directly with the therapist. We realize that requesting an evaluation or treatment for a child is a difficult decision. This type of work can be viewed as an investment in your child’s future. At Hanna Perkins we are dedicated to your child’s healthy personality development over time. We look forward to working together on behalf of your child. |
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Send mail to
ddewalt@hannaperkins.org with
questions or comments about this web site.
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