Imagine tossing a stone into a pond. Does the water stay perfectly still after the impact? No, it doesn’t. The impact disturbs everything around it. The water continues to ripple out, not stopping until it strikes the shore.
This is why when one person is being treated, we believe it is important to get help for the entire family. Many 12-Step programs refer to it as “a family disease,” which is why programs like Al-Anon and Alateen came into being. Although we do not strictly adhere to the 12-Step model, we at Clearview Girls Academy agree with these programs that self-medicating, drinking and mental health issues degrade the family. This is why we treat not just the individual but the whole family as well.
Mental Health Does Not Just Affect the Individual
Have you ever heard the saying “You are only as sick as your secrets?” Here at Clearview Girls Academy, we believe that this statement rings true. Yet, the person keeping secrets isn’t always just the one who’s having mental health issues. The whole family often keeps secrets from the rest of the world.
Today’s adolescents are experiencing an epidemic of mental health problems. According to the World Health Organization, one in seven children worldwide aged 10-19 has a mental health disorder. Despite these statistics being well-known, many families still consider mental health issues to be a stigma. Because of this, families often downplay or hide their teen’s issues. Although this is understandable, this behavior can be devastating for everyone involved.
These types of issues rarely resolve themselves automatically or through internal efforts. Have you ever heard the phrase, “You can’t put a fire out from inside the house”? Just as we need to get the proper help for a house fire, we need to have faith in others to help with mental health struggles. Perhaps others haven’t been helpful in the past. You may even have lost your faith in health professionals. Let Clearview Girls Academy restore that faith.
A Family Disease
Let’s return to the ripple analogy from earlier. Picture a stone splashing into the water. Notice how high the water rises where it directly hits and how disturbed the water becomes right at the entry point. That is where your family might be right now – in the middle of that chaotic splash. Your family may feel like it is in crisis mode and as if it is at its “sickest.”
Now notice how that ripple slowly fades in intensity as spreads outward toward the shore. That is where we want to take you. Just as the water stills, we want to help still your family’s fears and anxieties. We want to help you arrive at that place of calm healing.
If you are like us, you feel that your children are the most precious gift God has ever given you. That doesn’t mean your children don’t make you frustrated and even a little crazy at times. That is why we believe in an individualized plan not just for your daughter, but for your entire family as well. Parents often forsake their own needs for the sake of their children. We want to address your needs as well.
Helping Your Family Heal
Here at Clearview Girls Academy, we offer help for the entire family. We even have a worksheet that can help you identify the family values that you wish to recover. We also offer therapy for the entire family, when the time is right. Our professionals will help you and your daughter navigate the path of healing together.
Here are two seemingly different statements regarding the importance of family. The first is from Pope John XXIII: “The family is the first essential cell of human society.” The second is from comedian George Carlin: “The other night I ate at a real nice family restaurant. Every table had an argument going.”
On the surface, these quotes may seem like they present the family unit in an opposing fashion, but they actually share the same core idea – that family is important. The first quote shows the importance of the influence of family on human society. The second shows the importance of families having space for being human.
Family life can be messy and wild at times, and that’s okay. What’s important is to differentiate when that dynamic is healthy and when it’s veering away from a healthy path. We are not trying to change the structure of your family. We want to return some normalcy and health to that existing family dynamic.
Let us help you get your family back to a place of peace. We want to give you the serenity you deserve. We want to help bring some calm back to your family’s waters.
Mental health issues affect the entire family. This is why it is so important for all family members to receive the help they need – not just the one who is being directly treated. We understand what it is like when you feel your daughter is out of control and you don’t know where to turn. We understand the concerns you may feel about how your spouse, partner, or other children are being affected. We also want you to understand that you, too, are being affected by this situation. We want your whole family to get the help you need and deserve. Please contact Clearview Girls Academy at (888) 796-5484 for more information.
