Joseph's Story
Joseph was 9 years old when he entered the Day Treatment Program at Edgewood Children's Center. Although Joseph had two loving parents and a stable environment at home, he witnessed his mother being rushed into emergency surgery when he was 8 years old. This upsetting event, as well as the follow-up difficulties with her recovery, traumatized Joseph. His behavior continually regressed until he could no longer function either at home or at school. His fear of losing his mother became so intrinsic that he refused to leave her side, even long enough for her to take a shower.
Joseph’s situation in the local public school deteriorated rapidly. He ran away from school to be with his mother, and he eventually refused to go to school at all. The school district could no longer educate Joseph and referred him to the Edgewood Day Treatment Program. A therapist and teacher worked with the family on creative interventions to facilitate Joseph’s attendance at school. He worked in individual and group therapy, discussing his fears with his therapist and peer group. Joseph eventually made sense of his trauma and re-learned the appropriate social and educational skills needed to return to his public school.
Joseph successfully re-entered his local public school the following school year and continues to do well both behaviorally and academically in that setting.
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