This is a guest blog post from a staff member at Heritage Schools. He does a great job introducing himself, so read on …
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As a full-time counselor at Heritage Schools Residential Treatment Center in Provo Utah, I feel I am in a unique position to ease the worry a parent may have when placing their teen with our program and perhaps more broadly at other RTC’s as well. I felt I could share a bit of where I am coming from as a residential staff, I take pride in the Treatment Team meetings, I consider them a powerful demonstration of the care and concern that the staff has for each individual teen. I will also explain the transformation I experience in most teens in an RTC (disclaimer: of course each child is different and my example does not apply in all cases, however I’ve seen it over and over again enough times to feel comfortable offering it as a relatively universal norm).
My Life as a Heritage RTC Counselor and member of the Treatment Team
There are only 2 other staff members that spend as much time as I do with my teens; I spend 40 hours a week in direct contact with my group of 10 teens. I am with them as they get ready for school everyday, when they come back from school, when we set aside time for homework and other productive activities, when we play in the snow or in the gymnasium. I’m with them during group therapy twice a week, recreational therapy, when they ride the horses and when they sit around playing games with the other residence. I am the one that dials home so they can talk to their parents or grandparents. Sometimes the teens end their calls content, other times the phone calls are very emotional and draining. I may encourage them to write in their journals, to write home to their loved ones; I encourage them to develop a relationship of trust with their therapist, I try my hardest to have a sincere, honest, and trust-worthy relationship with each one so they can open up to me about their emotions day to day. I also encourage them to develop healthy relationships with their peers, other teens who have also been through similar troubled times and in some ways may be able to connect and offer support in ways that I cannot.
I have come to care deeply about the welfare of each of ‘my teens’, both their day to day mood as well as contemplating their long term trajectory long after they leave our community. I personally work in coordination with 6 other counselors. Each one is unique in the way they build relationships with the teens. I find this variety appealing as another counselor may reach a resident in a way that I cannot and visa versa. In fact, just two nights ago I was talking one on one with one of my teens that has been with us for 4 months. He told me that the new counselor, one that has only been on our team for 2 weeks, has already reached out to spend time with him in a way that has significantly impacted him. The newbie had been working for 2 weeks and already he is reaching one a resident in ways that I have not. I wonder if he’s even fully aware of the impact he has. I wonder if I’m full aware… Needless to say, I am very pleased with the Heritage conception that “healthy loving relationships” is the foundation for therapeutic progress.
What is Treatment Team
I am also impressed that I share this vision with my working staff members. It is with pride that I expound my experience with Treatment Team. Treatment Team is a weekly meeting in which the staff working with each ‘unit’, or group of teens, comes together to discuss each teen individually. Imagine a conference room in which around the table you find your teen’s therapist, psychiatrist (if applicable), recreational therapist, academic advisor, a representative of the nursing medical staff, your teen’s program supervisor (who oversees the direct care staff in day to day affairs) and full-time counselors (direct care staff). Other administrators may be present depending on the issues to be discussed. I’ve seen upwards of twenty administrators and other staff show up to the meeting to discuss one teen. We take each residents care very seriously. We meet together reflecting on each child ourselves and sometimes as a group; last week two other counselors, the program supervisor, and I came in early because we wanted to brainstorm ideas of how we can alter a particular teen’s treatment plan in order to help motivate him and then be able to take our collective thoughts to the greater group at Treatment Team. While the overarching structure of the Heritage treatment plan is similar across the board, each teen’s treatment is tailor-fitted over time, with back and forth discussions in Treatment Team meetings.
The therapist will open up a resident for discussion and we will each give our input. Some of the concerns may be:
- How are they doing with peer relationships?
- How are they expressing themself and communicating emotions and thoughts to counselors and therapist?
- How are any changes to medication affecting them?
- How well are they participating in recreation therapy?
- What were the strengths this week?
- What were the struggles and why?
- Is there anything we should consider that may help?
- Is there anything going on this week that the therapist should know about?
- We discuss what privileges they may have earned this week, or maybe what privileges they had to gave up as a natural consequence of poor choices.
Confidentiality is a strict standard in these meetings. Information is on a need-to-know basis and is not discussed with the other staff around campus, or anyone else. After reaching a consensus, we put our heads together to annotate what “from Treatment Team” will be shared with the teen that will help them know what is working and what they should continue to focus on. As I sit in these meetings I look around and appreciate that each member sees the teen in a different setting and that collectively we are able to visualize the big picture of how each teen is progressing. Some members will offer the strengths of the proposed change in treatment while others naturally play the devil’s advocate to tease out the eventualities of the alteration. I’ve learned the value of giving some teens prompt praise for even the slightest progress, and I’ve learned the value of tough love and solid structure. Sometimes we have to communicate with the teen in firm terms to help them see the gravity of his situation, and we do it because we love them. Each teen requires a different strength of guidance in order to find his way. We spend our days evaluating where that line is for your teen.
Observations and Transformations That Take Place
As the parent or caregiver you may be there the day your child goes into treatment; I am there the days, weeks and months that follow. I assure you even though the vast majority are initially angry at being placed in an RTC, as time goes on an extraordinary shift happens, I watch these teens transform. In the beginning they may deny risky behaviors and minimize any problems they faced back at home claiming their placement was a mistake. But with time and patience I see the ice melt, as the teen becomes more honest with himself and others about his past and begins to see reasons for change. The former resistance to the program melts, a willingness and desire to progress takes hold. The desire to change is rewarded as attitudes improve; they begin to get along better with peers, forge better relationships with staff and therapist. Most importantly, they are able to communicate thoughts and feelings to their parents in a healthy way and learn sound methods to cope with life’s stressors without resorting to former trappings.
One of my greatest joys as a counselor is when the teens come back from visiting with their families and I hear how family life has improved. This is a great relief to the parents, and this newfound appreciation for the family gives the teen a great motivation to intensify efforts to complete the treatment program so they can go home. That is the validation that sustains me in this sometimes stressful line of work. This is our mission here at Heritage and I’m sure at other RTCs.
I wish to express my heart-felt sympathy for all families that are passing through this dark stage in your family life. I hope my words may offer you some comfort in your heartbreaking decision to turn over your child to professional help that he or she desperately needs.
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As a parent of a child that has been at Heritage since June, I really appreciate the time that was put into writing this post. I have been very happy with the staff at Heritage and feel as if they do look at my child’s best interest. My child has had a lot of struggles and everyday is different but I feel he is changing in a positive way. I hope you continue to care for our children and remain a positive influence. God bless you and what you do.
I am very impressed that you show such care for the teens you work with. Parents are lucky to have someone like you in the group, more importantly, the teen is the lucky one.
Thanks for caring.