Creating a Therapeutic Environment

Creating a Therapeutic Environment by Wendy Barker Get Author Circle Updates. Join Now to receive promotions related to this title and author like special advance previews, sweepstakes, updates and more! terms

From Lesson One...The Big Picture (with photos) Foster youth are the most at-risk kids in the United States. They are often the innocent victims of domestic violence and/or parental mental health issues. It is our job to help them and we take our work seriously. You may live or work with troubled kids yourself... Whether you are a foster parent, child care counselor, student or professional, this book will give you a window into the world of troubled children and the skills to help them heal. Read on and learn more. From "Meet Juan"...page 7 (with photos) Two years ago Juan and his brothers were living with their mom. Extreme domestic violence was common in their home. One night, when Juan was five, his mother and her boyfriend got into a violent argument...and the boyfriend stabbed Juan's mother with a knife. Juan had tried hard to protect his mom. The police report says he was covered in blood... From that night on, Juan began to have nightmares. He started getting into trouble at school. He couldn't sleep so he started wandering the streets late at night. The neighbors got concerned and called Child Protective Services. Juan and his brothers were placed in a foster home, but while his brothers seemed to thrive, Juan did not. He still had nightmares and couldn't sleep. He was failing in school, lying, stealing, breaking toys and threatening other kids with a pocket knife. Juan's foster mother told his social worker about these behaviors and it was decided that Juan would need a more therapeutic environment. Juan was placed at Peacock Acres. Children like Juan, who have been the victims of violence, neglect and abuse, have the best chance to heal in an environment that actively contributes to their well-being. What makes it a "therapeutic" environment? It's people who make it therapeutic. People who intentionally contribute to the children's recovery by using skills they have learned and practiced. In the group home we call them our child care counselors, our agents of change. In this book I will share with you how we train them. Earlier you met Juan. You read some of his early history and you learned some of the circumstances that brought him to Peacock Acres. The circumstances are sad, yes...but once we have Juan safely in our care, what do we do next? How can we help Juan to heal from his previous traumas and go on to lead a good life. Keep on reading and you will see. Continues...