Success Stories

    Children and their parents come to us seeking help for a wide range of problems.  Often, these problems are complex and require a lot of time, patience and perseverance for progress to be made.  Some things, though, can be treated effectively in a relatively brief amount of time if the proper intervention is applied.  Below is an example of providing a little assistance to gain a big impact on the quality of life in one family.

    2010

    Eddie

    Eddie (name changed) came to Child Guidance Center at the tender age of five because his grandparents were seeking help for his hyperactive behavior. His parents lived a chaotic life and Eddie was exposed to violence from a very young age. His mother died of AIDS and his father was in and out jail, so his grandmother became his legal guardian.

    Despite her lack of means, Eddie’s grandmother has been his hero by making sure Eddie never slips through the cracks. She was able to secure case management services, in-home and in-school therapy, and psychiatric services through CGC, and placement in ESE Pre-Kindergarten through the school system.  Because of these interventions, Eddie will be attending Kindergarten in the Fall in a regular classroom.

    Eddie’s grandmother has a learner’s heart and has been very eager to put into practice all of the behavior modification and parenting techniques that her in-home therapist has shown her through role-playing, modeling, and psycho-education.

    Through play therapy and therapeutic games, Eddie has been able to learn to sit still and focus on completing tasks. Because he is in therapy, he was able to be correctly diagnosed with ADHD and receive the necessary medication to treat the disorder by a psychiatrist. The right medication has allowed Eddie to not only sit still and not distract others, but to thrive in the classroom. His teachers report that Eddie is one of their best students.

    Kenny

    Kenny’s (name changed) parents sought in-home and in-school therapy for their adolescent son because of his anger and defiance at home and school. Kenny lived with his mother, step-father, older brother, and younger brother. Although his family was loving and supportive, Kenny’s parents felt they could not control his angry outbursts and poor school performance without family therapy and therapy for their son.  Kenny was on the verge of being expelled from the private school he was attending because of his aggressive behavior.

    Through individual therapy, Kenny was able to explore the roots of his anger and learn to take responsibility for his emotions and his actions. Kenny learned coping skills that he now uses whenever he feels himself losing control. Also, through therapy, he has been able to let go of a lot of the negative emotions affecting his poor choices and behavior.

    During treatment, Kenny’s parents decided to enroll him in his local public school with his brothers since Kenny said he was not happy at his old school. This change in environment, along with therapy for Kenny and his family, was enough to change the course of Kenny’s academic career and perhaps his future. Kenny’s grades and FCATS improved, and more importantly, Kenny no longer has any symptoms of his original diagnosis, Oppositional Defiant Disorder.

    Through family therapy, the entire family was able to engage in healthy communication and take the skills they learned and use them in weekly family meetings where they discuss issues and feelings with each other. The fact that this family is so close, loving, and eager to make positive changes has made all the difference in Kenny’s success and positive changes in his life.

    Annie

    Annie’s (name changed) birth parents were both drug addicts so her grandmother officially adopted her and her brother, making grandmother, “mom.” Annie’s mother sought in-home and in-school therapy for her daughter because she felt that now that Annie was a teenager, her mother could no longer control her irresponsible behavior and poor choices.

    Annie was immediately eager to talk to a therapist and quickly changed from immature, depressed, and defiant to poised, insightful, and full of hope. Through cognitive therapy, Annie has been able to get in touch with the roots of her depression and reframe her negative thoughts into more realistic ones.

    Annie has gone from having no plans for her life despite graduating from high school this year, to learning how to drive, filling out college applications and financial aid forms on her own, making her own plans to visit out-of-town family over the summer, and having a lead role in the school musical.

    Annie is now excited about her future and is working with her therapist to narrow down her interests in order to choose a college major. Annie is interested in studying psychology and possibly becoming a therapist some day because she believes that the reason she had to go through being abandoned by her birth parents was so that she could help other people who are in emotional pain.

    2006

    Maddie

    Maddie (name changed) is a 3 1/2 year old little girl who could throw gigantic tantrums!  Bedtime was a nightmare for her young parents who both worked during the day and even were attending college classes.  Needless to say, nobody was getting very much sleep. And the struggle continued for much of the night as Maddie would climb into their bed long after they assumed she was finally asleep.

    After just one session, her parents came back to report her tantrums had stopped and everybody was happier.

    During the third session, Maddie’s behavior chart was proudly presented with several stars and stickers prominently displayed. The therapist happily opened the treat drawer to offer Maddie additional rewards.

    The last session focused on reviewing Maddie’s progress and answering the final questions of the parents. 

    After four sessions the parents reported uninterrupted sleep which resulted in being well rested and having a higher level of energy to apply toward the employment and parenting responsibility.

    Submitted by Stephanie Rose, LMHC and CGC Outpatient Therapist

    2005

    Tommy

    When Tommy (name changed) came to Child Guidance Center, his young life had been filled with chaos and loss. Being the oldest of four siblings, he was often responsible for their care due to his parents’ drug addiction and depression. His family life was filled with exposure to domestic violence. When his parents separated, Tommy volunteered to be the sole sibling to live with his father. He felt responsible for keeping his father from making any new suicidal attempts.

    Soon after, Tommy experienced the unexpected deaths of his grandparents in a tragic house fire. This further diminished the stability of the family and they moved into a homeless shelter.

    Eventually, Tommy and his sibling were placed in foster care. Later, they were adopted. Tommy and a brother were adopted by one family and his other two siblings were adopted by another family. Once more, everything familiar to Tommy had drastically changed.

    Tommy was aggressive and oppositional when he came to Child Guidance Center for help. He had frequent outbursts of anger. His behavior reflected the extreme stressors he had experienced during the first twelve years of his young life. Counseling focused on helping him cope with his multiple losses so he could begin planning for his future.

    Today, Tommy is more than surviving; he is thriving. He has strong academics and plays on a community sports team. He has learned to express his feelings rather than act them out. For the first time in his life, Tommy has begun developing plans for his future. He hopes to be accepted into a magnet school where he can pursue his interest in aeronautics and space exploration.