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From: Ellen-Marie Silverman
Date: 10/15/01
Time: 10:55:21 AM
Remote Name: 172.134.135.195
We are in accord in this important area of service, Woody.
You gave as an example honoring the decision of an adult consumer. I would like to suggest that the same approach can be used successfully with children as well. Although, since they are not able to legally contract service as minors (yes, I do use a contract approach to treatment), I incorporate the decisions of the responsible adults as well. In fact, I incorporated this way of working into the novel I recently published for readers aged 9-12, Jason's Secret. Jason, a 10 year-old, with a serious stuttering problem, who is resistant to speech therapy because of an unsuccessful early experience in therapy, negotiates a fade-out of therapy with his therapist, who says she will let his parents and referring homeroom teacher know of the decision reached and why. The dialogue between Jason and his therapist is realistic and quite complete.
Best,
Ellen-Marie