When a parent comes face to face with the terrifying reality that their child needs to be plucked from their cozy, albeit crisis ridden home, and placed in a therapeutic boarding school, finding the right ally, in their "war of terror" is a little like looking for a buoy to cling to on a ship that's sinking at breakneck speed. A Therapeutic Educational Consultant is that buoy.

Nestled in the cocoon of my own dreamy belief that the last decade of outpatient traditional therapy would "eventually" kick in for my middle son, and the long awaited improvements would be the reward for my patience, I "hung" in there year after year of traditional therapy, wondering who could outlast the other, me or my teen, before we would "hang" each other by our necks.

He outlasted me. Surprised? I bet not. I call it The Teflon Effect, and he endearingly became known to me (and I'm sure by his long string of therapists) as The Teflon Kid. Any parent of a highly treatment resistant teen knows what it's like to love one of these slippery characters. Treatment literally slides off of them, and nothing sticks. A therapist can direct, suggest, guide, create, enlighten, educate, model, or do an amazing rendition of a Jay Z rap, to no avail. It's ground Hog Day, week after week, and the faster the therapist and parent spin their wheels praying for change, the slower the teen creeps toward it.

So what's a parent, who is also a Clinical Social Worker to do? Eventually become the ally to other parents who are waging a war of their own terror, that's what. My Teflon Kid and I walked through the gates of The Therapeutic Boarding School World, four years ago, and every day he was there, I listened to the voice telling me that someday when he wasn't quite as slippery, I would become that ally for parents. The financial and emotional sacrifice that makes up such a large part of this experience is akin to giving your child one of your organs, and still not knowing the chance of their future survival: a true leap of faith.

The gift I can offer the parents who walk through our doors, is one that is based out of humility. Finding them the very best therapeutic program for their child is our mission, and arming them with the constant support they need to sustain themselves through the long journey of placement is the nourishment generously provided. While we as their Consultants unfortunately can't prevent them from having a Teflon Kid, we can put them and their teen, in a place where things finally stick.

About the Author:
Marcy Dorfman LCSW is also a Therapeutic Educational Consultant Judi Robinovitz Associates. Contact Marcy at marcydorfman@gmail.com or 954-415-6148 cell or office 561-241-1610.