Programs » Family Involvement
Family Involvement
Your family is expected to actively take part in your child's therapeutic experience. Parents and siblings participate in three multi-family meetings. The first meeting takes place on the day your child begins in the program. This meeting gives provides you with the opportunity to become familiar with the staff members who will be working with your child. It also gives us time to better understand your family's dynamics. This meeting is the starting point from which you and your child will begin rebuilding your relationship and learning new tools to aid you in this process.
The second meeting is held at the end of Phase I (Day 21). At this family meeting, participants openly share with their families and begin accepting their love and concern. Participants reveal long-held secrets that are painful, shameful, or frightening to disclose with families. Participants ask for help and oftentimes for changes within the family. At the completion of your child's expedition, there is another meeting led by your coordinating therapist. Here you and your child will discuss lessons learned, steps to recovery, and create clear home agreements.
Learn more about family involvement:
Communication
Each family is assigned a supervising therapist who provides both parents and referring professionals with timely updates on a child’s progress and helps plan for aftercare. Parents and associated professionals are encouraged to ask questions, provide input, and engage in a thorough exchange of information.
Direct telephone contact between the field staff and parents is not possible due to the nature of our treatment environment. Telephone contact between the supervising therapist and parents and/or caregivers is usually possible on a weekly basis.
Letter Writing
It is requested that you and other family members write to your child while they are on an expedition. During Phase I of the program, one letter is requested which will be shared with your child shortly before you reunite for the family meeting at 21-days. In Phase II of the program, participants may write and receive letters from their family once a week.
Letter writing provides a safe avenue for child and family members to share their issues and move toward healing. Letter writing also allows you to gage your child's progress by hearing directly from your son and daughter.
Counseling for Parents
We urge you to take part in counseling while your child is participating in a Catherine Freer program. This added therapy helps you develop important parenting skills to support your child and can provide you with valuable self-help tools during this stressful time for your family.
Family IQ
When you enroll your child in a Catherine Freer program, we give you a free membership to FamilyIQ. FamilyIQ is an online resource used to educate, train and support families seeking to improve relationships. The online courses have been developed by a team of experts in the field of sociology, psychology, psycho education, and youth and adult education. You can take courses at your convenience that help you accomplish your relationship goals. Learn more.
Parent Support Group
Catherine Freer offers parent support group meeting that are parent driven and provide a unique opportunity for discussion in an atmosphere of true understanding and camaraderie. It is an arena for distributing information, recognition of concerns, and practical problem solving among parents who share common experiences. A Catherine Freer representative helps facilitate the group.
Parent support group meetings are running monthly in Portland, Oregon. If you are interested in attending or in hosting a parent support group in your area contact julia@cfreer.com.