How do you work with parents?
Answer:
So many parents that we work with really have a sense of devastation or trauma when they first get the diagnosis. I don't know that the diagnosis is the problem; it's the fact that they're told all the negative things - the problems, the limits. They get stressed out, look at child's behaviors and find them frustrating, get scared about the future. This has a huge effect on the parents ability to implement the program. We look at beliefs, perspectives, and look at changing them.
Question:
What is it like for parents to attend a Son-Rise program? Do children attend with their parents?
Answer:
Parents attend a Son-Rise start-up program [in Sheffield, MA]. It costs $2200 including room and board on "campus" - and there is financial aid available. The start-up is is just for the parents. Parents goes to the program without their child. Parents can get started. They they go home, start to implement principles, and start to see responsiveness from their child. Then they come back, or get consults or video feedback about implementation or attitudinal issues.
Many families also come back every six months or so for our "Maximum Impact" or "Intensive" programs for parent/child teams. These involve sessions in our amazing playroom with giant observation window. Parent can observe consultants working with their child, and we observe parents with children.
All of our programs involve a piece of "life coach" and "therapist" for parents with children on the spectrum.
Question:
I understand you expect parents to recruit volunteers to work with their child, and to take on the lion's share of therapy on their own. This sounds pretty overwhelming and difficult.
Answer:
[We do recommend that parents] Recruit a group of volunteers who are willing to dedicate 5 hours a week. We don't want parents to do this whole program themselves.
One of the things we tell parents right at the beginning is - this is not a magic pill. It's a lot of hard work and focus. But the idea behind Son-Rise is that it's temporary: a 2-3-4 year program. That doesn't make it easy: it's incredibly challenging. That's why the attitudinal part is as important as the therapeutic element. There are certainly drop-offs -- parents who do this for a while. The reason some parents put this energy in is that they see this as a huge effort in the short term that will pay off in the long term.
When parents see this as supporting their child and themselves, it's easier.
