Mad River Behavioral Health

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 ...

Character strength is required in order to overcome the obstacles, challenges, and hardships of life.   No life goes unchallenged, is free from hurdles and hardship.  As parents, it is our purpose to endow our children with the skills, characteristics, and values they will need, not just to survive periods of intense difficulty, but to be ready and able to rise to the occasion.   ***** Many parents understand this.  However, some parents believe they must subject their children to hardship and drive them relentlessly as preparation.  I disagree with this perspective on parenting. Note: All of these blog posts are based on case compilations involving 100s of the children and families I've worked with over the years.  A safe, secure attachment and a safe and loving home is the strongest foundation for success in life. Parents do not prepare children for hardship by being harsh or cruel to them.  Parents prepare children for hardships by provid...

It's never too late or too soon. Wherever you are in your parenting journey, whether with newborn child or young adult, begin teaching problem solving skills, thinking skills, and verbal reasoning skills. Problem Solving, Thinking, & Verbal Reasoning There are other important skills (like, how to do laundry, dishes, math, and weak-side layups), but these are the Big Three. All are skills. All are taught, coached, encouraged, trained, and ... practiced, practiced, practiced to mastery over time. Please keep in mind that skills are increased gradually, incrementally over time only through repetitive practice. Practice to mastery is the only path to skill development, the only path forward. We will work toward developing these skills (problem-solving, thinking, verbal reasoning) by practicing on a regular basis the * Collaborative & Proactive Solutions (CPS) process developed by Dr. Ross Greene. This process can and should be practiced during all routine problems and mor...