There is no such thing as a "bad child" ... at least not initially. Few children are born defective nor are there many children who are being difficult because of a family curse. Your child is probably no exception.

 I regard the family as a system, much like the human body. If one part is acting up, it usually effects the rest of the body ... and vice versa. To pay attention to one part and ignore the rest is not good medicine. To treat your child without treating the rest of your family can make therapy longer and more difficult than necessary, and possibly ineffective. Involving your family in treatment can speed up the process and even improve family relationships all around.

I believe that under the right circumstances you, the parent, can make the best therapist for your child. Too often parents watch their child disappear into the therapist's office and emerge 50 minutes later, leaving them clueless as to what to do when they get the child home. One of my most important jobs is to help you help your child. Family therapy can lead to new a understanding of your child's problems and new ways you can respond.

Family therapy is not about looking for a culprit and a victim. It's about gaining insight into how your child got to be how they're being and what can be done about it. It's about learning new parenting skills, improving communication between family members and discovering more effective discipline. In short, it's about no longer doing what doesn't work.

Questions? Please call or write.