I Need Therapy For Children And Adolescents Diagnosed With...

My placement is with Halton Healthcare where I provide therapy to children and adolescents diagnosed with a mental illness. The most common concern is anxiety. Most of my clients are referred in their adolescent years after they have experienced a crisis. As much as I want to see these clients succeed, I am only able to provide 12, 1 hour sessions, which usually is not enough. This is extremely frustrating as it seems that, like most mental health agencies, Halton follows a reactive treatment model versus a proactive prevention model, despite research demonstrating the positive effects of early intervention. For example, according to Kutcher McLuckie (2010) prevention, early identification, and intervention can decrease both short-and†¦show more content†¦Haley resides with her mom in the Halton region. Haley’s biological father left when Haley was 4-years old and has had no contact with her since. Haley shared that she started having panic attacks a year ago, in whi ch she turned to cutting as a way to ease the anxiety. Haley stated that her panic attacks only happen at home when she is alone. Haley does not know what triggered them and or why they are occurring. When asked about her relationship with her mom, Haley shared that they are â€Å"close† but wishes they could spend more time together. Haley stated that her mom works three jobs and is rarely home. When asked about her childhood, Haley stated that it was sad and often lonely. Haley’s mom shared that she was depressed and struggled to raise Haley alone after her partner left her. She shared that she did not have any support and had to balance working and taking care of Haley. Haley shared that ever since she was little, she has felt like a burden and feared her mom leaving her, like her dad. Attachment Theory According to Sroufe (2005) attachment is where the child uses the primary caregiver as a secure base from which to explore, feel safe, and be comforted. As mentioned by Bowlby (1973) as cited by Sroufe (2005), individuals tend to return to trajectories of development following perturbations. Therefore, by promoting resilience and strength in the face of challenges, attachment is considered a protective factor, which emphasizes the importance for parents to