I hope that the following excerpts from most of the chapters in the book will give you a flavor of the quality and language of the writing, the general tone of voice, and helpful information to expand on the table of contents provided elsewhere on this web site. I tried to indicate that there was material preceding or following the particular excerpt by using the.......... designation.
Excerpt from the Introduction
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What I mean by "back on track"
This book is meant as a guide for you to help your child as he or she gets back on track toward health and wholeness. Regardless of the route, you are very important to the success of your child's journey. This book can help empower you to be the best helper you can be for your child. Within each person, a remarkable force moves us toward wholeness and health. That force is involved when our bodies heal from illness or recover from injury. It also propels our mind/soul to rebound from psychological and emotional assaults. That force is strengthened by nurturing and diminished by neglect. But it exists in its own right, separate and distinct from what we do.
For parents, it is hard to balance two truths related to this force.
- We have tremendous power to nurture or diminish this self-healing force within our children, particularly when they are young.
- We have little power to direct or control that force, particularly as our children get older.
When you respect the positive force propelling your child's growth and development, you consider your child's autonomy, will, independence, hope, or choice. You understand that there are always elements within your child that strive towards wholeness, health, or "the right path." Sometimes you may feel like that force is not present in your child, especially if he or she persists in a course that seems filled with pain. But that positive force is always present, although it may be undermined by misunderstanding, confusion, disruptive emotions, or ignorance. When you are aware of that positive force, you are inclined to see your role more as one of helping, guiding, and nurturing than one of simply directing and determining.
This perspective may help you feel less burdened by unrealistically expecting that......
More excerpts:
- From the Introduction
- From the Introduction to Section I, Parents' Interventions
- From Chapter 1: What to Do When You Think Your Child Has a Problem
- From Chapter 2: The Red Flags
- From Chapter 4: Ten Steps to Help Your Child Get Back on Track
- From Chapter 5: Coping with Your Feelings When Your Child Suffers
- From the Introduction to Section II: Professional Interventions
- From Chapter 6: Evaluation and Testing, Why, What, Who, and Where?
- From Chapter 7: Questions about the Helpers: Who Are They and Where Are They?
- From Chapter 8: Psychotherapy and Its Side Effects
- From Chapter 9: Medications and Their Side Effects
- From Chapter 11: The Role of Play in Individual Psychotherapy From Childhood to Adolescence
- From Chapter 12: Costs of Treatment: Money, Energy, and Time