Mental health and Barry

Barry

16 Year old Barry attempted suicide recently. He just completed semester 1 in his 11th grade with a worrying trend. His grades plummeted from a decent average B in 10th grade to a D at the end of the just concluded semester. The young man has been on pot, regularly, and also drinks until he passes out. He has confirmed that he has tried a number of other drugs. He says he is not interested in living anymore.

This paper suggests a mental health help setting that suits Barry. The family systems approach is chosen to assist Barry. It makes use of specific adventure therapy treatments developed by the New port Academy Treatment Team (Newport Academy, 2016).

The family systems approach in handling teen treatment includes members of the whole family in the process of planning. Each person is viewed by the approach as a needed part of the whole. The care model notes that the family is nothing less than a holistic system. It is interconnected naturally and is independent too. Every member of the family participates towards the wellbeing of other members. It means, therefore, that a problem for one is a problem for all.

Participation of Family

Once a Barry is admitted, members of the family are brought up to speed with how family therapy works and what they will be expected to do at New port Academy. Parents will be taken through an orientation process in which they meet the whole treatment team. They will be assigned a point-person to respond to their questions and provide them with progress updates and support in the period required for the healing of Barry. The assigned point-person makes sure that communication flows efficiently through the treatment process.

A healing space to develop new behaviours is given to each New Port family member through communicating consciously, experimental modalities and group processing. As Barry is taken through the New Port program, he is also cared for, exceptionally. There ratio of staff to teen is high so as to ensure that Barry and family , like other teens and their families, are provided with individualised attention and treatment, because they are unique.

Adventure Therapy

In adventure therapy, Barry is exposed to physical challenges that are exciting in an outdoor location so as to trigger transformation at personal level. Some of the adventure therapy activities at New Port Academy include surfing, paddle boarding, rock climbing, kayaking, hiking and a ropes course. All activities at the academy are facilitated by trained personnel. Such departure from the rather mundane routine daily activities can be helpful to teens like Barry. His experiences and skills will be enriched through stretching his limits to levels of discomfort. Consequently, he will learn how to become confident as he enjoys through the recovery process. Such an experimental therapy may be the social exposure that he needs to help him to reform and regain hope while he attaches meaning to his existence.

Building Skill

Building community, journal reflections and exploring relationships is part of adventure therapy. In the execution of adventure therapy, adolescents and teens are exposed to challenges that push them out of their comfort zones. They are encouraged to apply skills for survival and to work in groups to bolster their self esteem. It is also a secure setting for practising decision making, collaboration and problem solving. All these experiences are juxtaposed with an opportunity to develop new peer relationships, discovering new strengths and rediscovering a fresh and invigorated sense of self.