Mad River Behavioral Health

Successive Approximations: A Step-by-Step Approach to Solutions Successive Approximations: A Step-by-Step Approach to Solutions Kaizen or Successive approximations, also known as iterative methods, are a powerful technique used to find solutions to equations or problems that might be difficult or impossible to solve directly.  The core idea is to start with an initial guess and then refine that guess through a series of steps, gradually getting closer and closer to the actual solution and desired outcome. How it Works  • Initial Guess: Begin with an educated guess for the solution. This initial guess can be based on intuition, prior knowledge, or even a random starting point. • Iteration: Apply a specific algorithm or formula to the initial guess to obtain a new, hopefully improved, approximation. • Repeat: Use the new approximation as the input for the next iteration. This process is repeated iteratively, with each step producing a closer approximation to the true solution. •...

Parenting requires two key elements: trust and faith. It's very important that parents trust their children and have faith in their innate goodness and capacity, while continuously working to develop the required skills, ability, and character. With constructive proactive parenting the likelihood is very high that your children will turn out to be the good, capable, successful adults they were born to be.  Believe  this. Believe in your child’s natural goodness and innate ability from birth on. The probability of a good outcome declines as parents implement parenting plans and methods that are based in fear, anxiety, anger, and mistrust. For example, if you believe that children are inherently sneaky and dishonest, you are likely to parent them in a way that increases their sneakiness and dishonesty. Similarly, overly restrictive parenting designed to increase child obedience and safety often inspires increased rebellion and risky behaviors. Trust I often he...

A brief talk with a colleague this morning prompted me to write this short essay. She was describing to me how frustrating it is to walk out into the living room and realize how much mess has accumulated while your children sit and giggle watching youtube videos, apparently oblivious to the carnage surrounding them. I know this feeling.  It can be infuriating. The urge to scream can be powerful. But First, Ask ... is this an emergency? Take a step back.  Evaluate.  Is this an emergency?  Is anyone gushing blood or on fire?  If yes, it's an emergency -- stay calm, think clearly, take action.  If no one is gushing blood or on fire, there is no emergency -- stay calm, think clearly, delay taking action.  Emergency or not, stay calm - think with a clear head. Own the Problem First, always own the problem.  If the family is not functioning as desired, responsibility falls to the leadership. The family leaders are responsible for creating ...