Therapist: Jody Herlow Company: Family Life Counseling Center, Mansfield, Ohio

Date of Interview: September 27, 2011

the population they serve

Jodi Herlow is a family therapist and behavioral specialist at Family Life Counseling Center, which is a multi-discipline service. Their practice services the general population and includes both those on public assistance, those with private insurance, and self-pay clients. Their services include a transitions program for adults 55 years and older who have gone to changes in their life and are experiencing adjustment problems. Their services include financial coaching, drug and alcohol abuse problems, and sexual abuse problems for clients of all ages. They also offer a multi-systemic therapy program to help adolescents with behavior problems improve in all areas of their life.

2-The most common diagnosis/diagnosis they see

The most common diagnosis seen in the practice is in the multi-systemic therapy (MST) area of the practice. The most typical age for this program is teens ranging in age from 10 years through age 18. Sometimes the parents of the child refer them to the program, but most often it is through the juvenile court system or through the school systems that clients in this program come to them. Their services are a court approved provider of behavioral therapy for troubled youth.

Many of the youth that are referred for treatment through the program are suspected to have psychological problems such as Attention Deficit Disorder, school issues, anger issues, substance abuse problems. However, more times than not, the problem tends to be a problem involving...

Therefore, the entire family must enter into the program to support the youth who was referred to us.
3.-What theorist(s) inform their practice.

According to Jody, the works of B.F. Skinner forms the foundation of much of the behavior modification that takes place within the family. Modern theories of motivation also play a key role in the practice. The program is action oriented and focused on controlling behaviors, as well as resolving emotional conflicts that lead to them. However, because most of the problems involve behaviors at school, behavior modification is the foundation of the initial intervention. Many of the emotional issues and family systemic issues are dealt with later on in the program. The program builds on behavior modification using goals and motivational rewards as a foundation.

4-What books do they read

Because the practice is Christian based, much of the reading involves how to blend psychological principles into a Christian lifestyle. However, not all the clients that we see are Christian and we cannot use the religious aspect in the practice. A majority of the reading tends to be from magazines and academic journals. Anything that has to do with boundaries, family systems, and updates on motivational theory are on the reading list.

5-What seminars/conferences do they attend?

Jody does not really attend many conferences or seminars. They have a Monday morning staff meeting where various staff members share the latest research. Each staff member must take their turn providing an informational talk about a recent…