What I Wish I Had Know Then

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Re: support group?

From: Michael D. Nawrocki
Date: 21 Oct 2004
Time: 13:29:14 -0500
Remote Name: 63.224.5.132

Comments

Dori Thanks for posting your article. I also would like to respond to your concerns regarding our group. While I have met you only in passing, you probably know that I have worked with Katie and have been trained by Katie over the past four years. Although I have only met Eli in our inaugural support group, I think you hit the nail on the head in your article when you talked about kids like Eli being heroes. First let me say how lucky Eli is to have a loving devoted parent. And I can tell you feel blessed to have a great kid like Eli. I am not a parent yet, but I hope when I am, that I can advocate for my kids as strongly as you do. And I hope my child (or children) has the courage and heart that Eli does. While I cannot to speak to your individual therapy with Katie, I can say I am sorry you felt “like a fixture” in the waiting room, especially during our group session. However, just as you advocate for Eli, advocate for yourself. If you had spoken with either Katie or me in person you could have learned our perspective instead of assuming you were being cast aside. Maybe you felt there wasn’t time to raise concerns after the session, as it as 6:15 p.m. and we were doing this group after hours. If that is the case, I sympathize with that, but you can always call us at anytime and voice your concerns over the phone. And here is the perspective Katie and I would have shared with you if you spoken with us in person: we share your ideal that a parent support group is needed, and parent involvement in the child/adolescent is important. Regarding the child/adolescent group, in the future we plan to include parents as part of our child/adolescent group. But you are judging the group after only one meeting. During this first session, the focus was on making the kids in the group feel comfortable and independent as they contribute to our group. Regarding a parent support group, as our clinic expands and we have the staff to start a parent group that will be a top priority. Again, please speak up for yourself, with us, in person, just as you do for Eli. I regret we did not communicate our vision of our group clearly to you, and that there was a communication breakdown. But if you speak with us personally about your concerns with the group, I am positive we can meet a common ground. Michael Nawrocki, M.A. CCC-SLP Speech and Language Pathologist


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