The intervention, the “project” that we are embarking upon in regards to my RAD daughter, a sort of Mission Impossible could also be subtitled “Nothing Left To Lose.” Having tried all sorts of resources and therapies so far, and gotten nowhere, this last therapeutic placement is all we have. Everyone involved agrees it may, or may not, accomplish much, but we have nothing left to lose.

When she steals from us, or from school, there are no privileges to take away anymore as she has lost them all. A rewards system never worked, behavior modification doesn’t begin to touch Reactive Attachment Disorders, and it’s a waste of breath. All the other children in our family are outraged at the continuing behavior; I am more than a little disheartened. When absolutely nothing seems to work, when I can look into the future, to some degree, and realize that if this continues, her quality of life will suffer then I am dismayed. Jail is not my first choice of living arrangements.

This therapeutic placement is being put into place in order to prevent a YDC confinement for all the theft charges.

The IFI Team, Intensive Family Intervention, operates through the county mental health program here. I’m fortunate as it is excellent. There are three team members comprised of Miss Pat, Miss Celeste and Miss Elizabeth.

Miss Pat, insightful and intelligent, has helped me tremendously in dealing with a child who appears to have little conscience. I’d not sat down extensively yet with Elizabeth until today and I was rewarded with her thoughts as well. The ‘nothing left to lose’ was hers and it does put it all into perspective for me plus it is right on target.

She also talked about how everyone could benefit from therapy, an extension of the idea from Proverbs which suggests that in wisdom there is counsel; wisdom is found in those who take advice.

I agree as life is tough, throws curveballs to us all, and we often end up not where we thought we’d be.

I know that I have benefited greatly, over the years, from the many psychologists, therapists, psychiatrists, and caseworkers who’ve been involved with our family. It is difficult for a fairly normal, middle class parent to comprehend, even to cope at times, with the issues involved in the adoption of older children. This is not necessarily how we grew up in the 1950s, it’s a brave new world, and we desperately need tour guides.