Idaho in the late Spring is simply the best. Of course, this statement has a lot to do with the success of the young men and women who I placed in the Idaho schools. From the young man who I placed  with Matt and Dave, to spending time on Lake Pend Oreille with Greg H. from Wingate, to attending BCA graduation and watching this particular young lady “walk” across the stage to receive her diploma — it was all amazing. Did I say BCA is a winner for me? The staff are “best”.

North Idaho schools and programs have a reputation for staying power. Northwest Academy with Dr. Adam and staff have created a great option for older adolescents who otherwise would not have made it to graduation. Focus Point is a new program with Ranel H that will definitely help young adults to  ride that path (either by walking or bike!) of success to college. Innercept is there to offer more structure to those young adults who need it, and they’ve graduated mine as well.

After 30 years in the “helping” industry, I can tell you that it never means more to me than to I hear a young person turn to me and say, at this stage of a journey, “thank you for helping me graduate.” It’s enough to bring tears to your eyes, and it does. The parents are proud, the kids, even more proud. The staff and I — well, we just look over at each other and ‘smile.’ Good things happen to those pursue personal success with vigor. Congratulations to my families who did exactly that and graduated 2013.

What do these pictures have in common? Simple: They hold the answers to what is bothering your teen. The man is Erik Erickson, well known psychologist. Erikson’s theory of personality followed an 8 stage identified progression in virtues. Somewhere between Stages 5 and 6 is where kids “get stuck” and parents fail to recognize what to do about it.  In Stage 5, identity and role confusion questions emerge around ‘who am I’ and ‘how do I fit in’ with peers and famiily. If kids are allowed to safely explore, and not accept at face value their parent’s world views,  they will ‘find’ themselves, and transition on to Stage 6, intimacy over isolation. Parents today are experiencing the loss of relationship with sons and daughters when they fall into “the digital hole” of devices (e.g., gaming, internet, texting, FB, etc. etc.). Their kids fail to “explore” the ‘real’ world and test their belief systems against others. They are then “stuck” in this stage and do not develop intimacy and adult perspective.

The answer? The graphic below. It’s School Connections. Meeting in San Francisco this coming week, the conference focuses on schools that present a superior boarding life opportunity to allow your sons and daughters to “explore” who they are, and how they fit in to the greater community around them. Boarding is a safe and sound solution to the “digital hole syndrome” and allow teens to individualize and develop meaningful relationships with those around them. Interested? call 877-571-2524 and ask for Dr Burdick. We offer school and program solutions for you and yours to successfully ‘launch’ into the world of adulthood.

I suspect that many know of Milestones as an addictions center nestled in the Santa Monica Mountains closer to Calabasas than the Pacific Ocean. MRM is known for outstanding recovery work thanks to superb staff like Savannah in admissions to Denise Klein, Executive Director, I have come to know personally the extent of ‘caring’ to clients offered by this facility. After only thirty days, this early 20 year old has done extremely well at Milestones and considered a “model” client for the program.

How did I know this treatment center would work for this client? Years of experience in watching how certain treatment providers hold themselves and articulate treatment, understanding the power of ‘tuned in’ treatment communities, and recognizing how the ‘right fit’ makes the difference for clients in recovery. MRM trusts my instincts as much as I do theirs, and in this way, and after doing considerable due diligence on both of our parts, ‘the fit’ becomes apparents.

The worst mistake a client family can make is to ‘go it alone’, off the internet and into treatment facility that looks good “on screen”, but isn’t the ‘right fit’. Don’t make that mistake, please. Give us a call so we can find the solution that works for you or your family member.

Dr. Mark Burdick

Let’s start with Lake House Academy, as this is where you would want your daughter to go, instead of ending up in recovery — right? Seriously, what is more important than the care of your 10-14 y.o. daughter in giving them an opportunity to grow in a safe and enriching school. I never use the words ‘sending them away’ as that is NOT what happens at Lake House Academy. I saw tender, quality care happening for the girls, I knew some of the staff and met others, and the girls are well taken care of and have meaningful relationships. The staff is very attentive to the needs of the girls, and yet set healthy boundaries encouraging the girls to do work for themselves. I can’t say enough about the therapist support. As a clinician, there is no better way of gauging the quality of the therapeutic support than by the professionalism, alertness, and caring of the therapists. They were able to explain their system and their own training and experience in working with this population. Tracy Hopkins in admissions provided me with an excellent opportunity to see “in action” what they were doing on a beautiful, spacious property nestled in the woods set next to the lake.

I posted not long ago about Four Circles and the wonderful work they do with my clients specifically, and in taking this photo of admissions director Shane Applegate I think I figured out part of the secret — it’s ‘family’. Jack, Heather, Shane, the therapists, management, line staff all make you feel right at home. And although that may be attributed to North Carolina hospitality, it goes further in reaching into the hearts of those lucky enough to come into contact with Four Circles.Recovery is tough, but the results are like child’s play — simple, honest, and all about healthy relationships.