We can be helpful with most families with a son or daughter who is not making the progress desired in areas of behavior, maturity, responsibility or education. In addition we work with families with children with psychological or psychiatric problems. 

Most families tend to contact us when a son or daughter has not made adequate progress after some effort has been made to solve problems at home. Others contact us on advice of a clinician who either wants our input in finding an effective strategy to make changes or simply believes that local resources are not adequate.

Our clients tend to range from elementary school age through mid-twenties,  although we have gone older and younger.

These are some signs that sometimes suggest a problem calling for professional intervention or at least inquiry: 

• At home:
  • Rage attacks
  • Excessively rigid behavior
  • Increasing conflict with parents and other authority figures
  • Choice of friends of concern to parents (especially teens)
  • Absence of personal communication at home (especially teens)
  • Excessive pre-occupation with computer and other electronic devices.
  • Sleep disturbances (stays up all night; won’t get up in the morning; night terrors; fitful or restless sleep; fears sleeping alone)
  • Excessively dependent upon parents (especially young adults)
  • Demands privileges of adulthood but refuses adult responsibility (especially young adults)
  • Refuses necessary medications or other attention to health needs
• At school:
  • Needs increased individual attention from teachers
  • Decline in academic performance, especially during middle school years (but might apply to any age)
  • Seems not to be challenged in school
  • Attends school that is resisting needed accommodations
  • Lacks proper study habits
  • Is graduating from High School  but not ready for college
  • Lacks motivation
  • Has been suspended, expelled, or or given mandatory re-assignment to “alternative” school.
• Community
  • Parents of other young people show concern about their sons and daughters being with your son or daughter
  • Attention from local law enforcement
  • Excessive involvement with undesirable peers
  • Absent from home without permission/Runaway (under 18 years of age)
  • Unexpected absences without explanation (young adults)
• Personal:
  • Developmental delayed
  • Has low self-esteem
  • Shows poor personal hygiene (even on teen peer terms)
  • Blames others for any negative events or reversals – fails to accept personal responsibility
  • Makes poor decisions
  • Shows evidence of self destructive behavior (cutting or burning on ones own body, suicidal talk or gestures, substance abuse, high risk and/or promiscuous sexual activity, excessive or inadequate eating or purging, the “choking game,” etc.)
  • Insecure or concerned about sexual development or identity
  • (See also diagnostic categories listed below)

Certainly not everyone with the above indicators needs our services but any of the above are indications of a need to understand what is happening and why, usually with professional participation.  FamilyLight^sm becomes involved most appropriately when the customary local resources are not providing adequate answers, progress is not evident, or the usual local helpers ask for more help. 

We would prefer otherwise, but some families contact us only when their son or daughter has become a threat to themselves or other family members.

We do not need a clinical diagnosis in order to become involved.  However, the following diagnostic categories and specific behaviors are very common in our experience:

• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (Including non-hyperactive variant)
• Oppositional and Defiant Disorder
• Depression (including Dysthymia)
• Bipolar disorder
• Anxiety disorder
• School phobia
• Reactive Attachment Disorder
• Adjustment issues related to adoption  
• Substance abuse, dependency and addiction
• Intermittent Explosive Disorder
• Borderline Personality Disorder
• Narcissistic Personality Disorder
• Eating disorders
• Sexual Reactivity
• Non-verbal Learning Disability
• Aspergers Syndrome
• Autism
• Pervasive Developmental Disorder
• Computer/TV addiction

We generally are not the best choice of consultant for a student solely on account of learning disabilities unless there is evidence of adjustment issues concurrently.

This area continues to be under development.

Last revised March 14, 2008;  Minor corrections  through November 2, 2008