30 Year Memoir to read in 30 seconds: 1979-2009 by Miriam Bodin

In the spirit of being thankful, I wanted to post a recent article that Miriam Bodin wrote in preparation for our 30th celebration. Read and enjoy.  We at Bodin wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving!

When I decided to open a practice in educational consulting back in 1979, there were very few people doing this work.  In fact “the work” back then consisted of helping families and students to find the “right fit” for prep school, day school, or college.  I was such a consultant until I began to visit and learn about the emerging world of “special needs” schools and programs.   I learned how limiting it was to just provide names of schools and programs to families and the reassurance that someone had investigated those schools and programs.

These families needed more education about the world of residential schools, in-depth guidance, strategic planning and collaboration on an ongoing basis if their child was to be sent from home to residential treatment.   Put another way, the families with the most complicated, troubling, at-risk children really needed sophisticated help, not just “a list.”

Thus, when Douglas Bodin joined me in 1991, a veritable sea change took place and we began our journey of growing our team of professionals who already had education, training and experience in the fields in which we were increasingly immersed.

We grew our company with the primary focus of serving families who needed our help to develop a plan to assist their youngsters.   We stopped being placement consultants and shifted to being members of a professional team that often consisted of the parents, the child and the professionals already working with the family.  If the child was then “placed,” professionals serving the child (and parents) in the special school or treatment program were added to the team.   Our mission statement says it all:
To provide the most valuable and comprehensive assessment and planning services for the educational and therapeutic needs of children, young adults and their families.

What has this journey meant to me?   I am grateful for whatever passion and spirit of adventure prompted me to embark on this career path.   It has provided me with:  1) opportunities to interact with parents (often heroic in their efforts to help their kids); 2) connection and interaction with fantastically humane, intelligent, and creative professionals both in the local community and in treatment centers and schools all over the country; 3) the establishment of a team here at Bodin of wonderful hard working and committed professionals who genuinely care about their work and their families; and 4) a chance to observe my own son devote himself to helping others.

At the risk of sounding sappy, but within the 30 seconds:   No one could be luckier than I. I come to work every day knowing that I have the chance to help someone or someone’s kid have a better chance.   Is there anything sweeter than this to say about one’s life?

About my recent post…

My post regarding the temporary closure of a therapuetic boarding school is in no way intended to align with either the school or the state of Oregon.  It’s simply information.  If you are searching on the web, looking for answers for your troubled teen and are looking for guidance, you may be be interested in calling an Educational Consultant.  The call is free!   Check us out @ www.thebodingroup.com or call 800-874-2124

The school called…

If you are the parent of a struggling teen you may cringe when the phone rings and the caller ID shows the number of your child’s school.  This is the time of year that the promises your child made and the hopes that you had that this year would be different are falling apart.  It may be the time of year that you need to call an Educational Consultant to begin developing an alternative plan for success if your student continues to struggle.  At Bodin,  our Educational Consultants are skilled in working with families who have children, adolescents and young adults sruggling with issues ranging from learning differences to major mental health issues.

If you have a child who is struggling, please feel free to contact us aat 800-874-2124.

Recovery Takes Flight – Celebrating National Alcohol and Drug Addiction Recovery Month

Gen. Barry McCaffrey and Brenda Loringer-Bell of Bodin

I attended the “Recovery Takes Flight” celebration in Marin County last week to honor the many who have battled addiction, sought treatment and had the opportunity to thrive in recovery from addiction. Myself included.

Former US Drug Czar and Retired Four-Star General Barry McCaffrey was there and reminded the audience and media that ” Twenty on million Americans need but do not receive treatment for illicit drug or alcohol problems according to the numbers form HHS; less than three million receive treatment. In California, 3.1 million need but do not receive treatment; less than 200,000 are treated. We have a huge treatment gap.”

While I could not find data to show out those numbers, how many are adolescents and young adults, it is fair to assume that at Bodin, we have the opportunity and obligation to every family we see to be aware of the current trends in drug abuse and addiction. This includes keeping informed about the current drugs of abuse, recent studies, options for treatment and employing Educational Consultants who have extensive experience in addiction treatment.

I could go on and on, but the message is this…recovery happens and it feels really good to be a part of it.

Response to Sue Scheff – At Wit’s End

Douglas Bodin, CEO

www.thebodingroup.com

http://admittingmistakesasaparent.blogspot.com/

Dear Sue—

That’s a fantastic reminder to desperate parents of the risks associated with getting on the internet. Predatory practices by otherwise reputable organizations, let alone those by the disreputable ones, are outrageously commonplace. As an Educational Consultant I also agree almost entirely with your assessment of educational consultants! My firm is the largest in the country, employing almost exclusively Masters and Ph.D. – level, experienced professionals to act as the guides and planners for families in crisis. It’s the best of both worlds, in my opinion. As trained therapists, they understand the intricacies and nuances of often significantly clinical issues. But as a team of 15, constantly traveling around the country visiting and evaluating hundreds of programs, we bring a level of knowledge and on-the-ground experience that is unmatched. Furthermore, with a diversity of clinical experiences and backgrounds, our team approach allows each consultant to collaborate and derive support and guidance from other members of the team on a regular and routine basis. I further agree that consulting with your therapist is an important component of the process. We get most of our referrals from therapists who may recognize the possible need for a residential placement but rely on our travel, experience and expertise to help determine its necessity and location. Finally, with regard to the politics, I believe you are unfortunately correct that individual practitioners are limited in the number of programs with which they can remain conversant. They have their “favorites” that are often based on factors unrelated to the specific needs of a particular child. And while Wilderness programs are often an extraordinary first step as a preparatory and evaluative tool, they aren’t for everyone. Adhering rigidly to the best interests of the child, advocating for his or her needs and remaining involved throughout placement(s), guiding a family and problem-solving at every step is an essential recipe for successful outcomes. Being more than mere “matchmakers” is what has contributed to our success and growth for 30 years.

Help for your teen

If you are a parent of a struggling teen you may be searching for answers. At Bodin, we firmly believe that there are no general answers to the difficulties families and teens are struggling with. There is not one or even one hundred schools that can solve the problem. Every single family we see is different and every plan we develop is different, too.

The Educational Consultants at Bodin are available to assist families who need help. Our expertise is in creating unique and clinically appropriate plans for success. Our educational consultants travel throughout the U.S. and abroad to evaluate schools and programs. We work hard to stay connected to many local resources within each community we work in so that every plan is developed to support not just the student, but the entire family system.

If you have a struggling teen, please check out www.thebodingroup.com or call 800-874-2124

What is a Troubled Teen?

Most people would use that term to describe the kid down the street known to have troubles with the law or who has a history of using alcohol or pot. For the Educational Consultants at Bodin, we see troubled teens who do fit the typical idea of a troubled teen, but who are not thriving for many reasons other than substance use and troubles with the law. We work with adolescents, young adults and families who need guidance developing appropriate and individualized plans for academic and emotional growth. We have developed relationships with schools, programs and individual resources throughout the country in order to ensure that a plan we create will be successful. Much of our work is with the families in order to maintain the plan and not fall prey to the common parenting pitfalls that can interrupt or setback these plans.

If you think you have a troubled teen and would like to speak to a consultant, call 800-874-2124

Back to school!

The start of new school year is usually an exciting time, but if you have troubled teen or a struggling teen, you may be approaching this time with a high level of anxiety about what this year will bring. Often, parents that call Bodin looking for help from an Educational Consultant have previously thought about calling, but put it off hoping things would get better. That is perfectly fine, there is help for you and your student when you are ready. The plans that our consultants put together are based solely on the individual student and family needs. Whether it’s researching local private school options for a student struggling with learning issues or residential options for a student with a more complex set of issues, we can help.

Check out www.thebodingroup.com or call 800-874-2124 to speak to someone today.

Drug Testing, right or wrong?

Without going into the great detail that many recent articles have on whether or not to drug test your adolescent or young adult, let me just say; if this is an issue in your home, you may need to start thinking about outside intervention and assessment. Educate yourself about drugs of abuse and the options available should you decide to seek help for your family. There are so many options and so many underlying issues that need to be addressed when a young person begins using substances. An Educational Consultant can educate you and help you. Whether it’s early intervention through parent coaching or a crisis intervention through treatment planning, the Educational Consultants at Bodin have experience, knowledge and compassion and are ready to help today!

Check out www.thebodingroup.com or call 800-874-2124

Parenting a Troubled Teen

” When I was a boy of fourteen, my father was so ignorant I could hardly stand to have the old man around, but when I got to be twenty-one I was astonished at how much he had learned in seven years” – Mark Twain

Issues of parenting struggling teens or troubled teens are not new, but the stakes are higher. Today, our children face issues of drugs and alcohol, anxiety, depression and other mental health crisis that can impede on the academic process and cause chaos in the home.

At Bodin, our Educational Consultants are skilled in working with families who are struggling and help to create treatment plans that confront and treat the issues within the entire family system. To learn more check out our website at www.thebodingroup.com or call 800-874-2124.