"Off Topic" Discussions

[Linda and "Toby"]

Here's a place to talk about anything and everything - not necessarily related to art...

[Linda and "Toby"]

Kyoko, you mentioned in another discussion thread that you do mental-health therapy for kids. That's fascinating! I would love to know more about your work!

[Kyoko]

I am ( it is going to sounds official, now I got my therapist cap on! ) a PA stated lisenced social worker - LSW -, and work as school social worker during the day and as my second job, I do therapy for kids. It is called Wraparound services, and there are numerous agencies provide these services for kids under 21 with mental health diagnosis. ( Theirhealth insurance pays for it.) With wraparound services, kids can recieve more comprehensive treatment than regular out patient therapy, since we go to their house and school to treat the kids more as a whole person in the system of home and school. I work with kids from foster kids needing adjustment to autistic kids... It varies. I also work to educate their parents in regard to their diagnosis, how to better deal with the child, etc... and our ultimate goal is to transfer the skills to the parent and drive ourselves out of job. It can be really heck tick and frustrating at time, but is very rewarding!!

Few years back, I worked with an autisic boy who can only say " I guess" , "I don't know", etc.. We used to practice making him repeat what to say, like " Hi, nice to see you again." etc... One day as I was leaving, he blurred out " Thank you Kyoko. I had fun."  I cried and his mom cried....

[Cindy Bowles]

Bless your heart Kyoko, you are very special.

[Linda and "Toby"]

Oh, what a wonderful career you have chosen! Both challenging and rewarding. (I used to work with Special Ed children when I worked for the school district, years ago.)  The story about the autistic boy make me cry, too! His mother must have been sooooo happy. 

Do you watch the TV show Parenthood? (One of my favorites!) Max Burkholder who plays the autistic teenager, Max Braverman, is such a terrific actor. He deserves an Emmy for this role.

[Dee & Chloe]

Wow, it really is a small world on DK! Kyoko, I worked as a Children's Social worker for 37 years, so I know the work you do and how much it is needed and appreciated. How wonderful that after working with the autistic boy, he was able to respond to you. Some time I will tell you about my first experience with an autistic girl when I had to transport her to a new home. It was my first week on the job and I had no idea how to deal with her behavior. Do you work with a  private agency or on your own with the Wraparound program? I am looking forward to meeting you "in person" with Linda in the  future!

[Kyoko]

I work for an agency.... It is so funny, because before I began working as a school social worker, I worked for Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh !!! My supervisor there encouraged me and supported me through grad school knowing that I will leave the hospital once I got my license.... Well, she liked me enough, when she left the hospital and became a vice president of this agency, she called and asked me to come work for her.  I told her I can only work for her part time because I would not leave my school job... That is how I ended up with this agency as a therapist! LOL...

[Dee & Chloe]

It sounds like you are one busy lady with 2 jobs. I admire your ability to still have time and energy to work on your art!

[Cindy Bowles]

Kyoko, I would also like to know more about the therapy for kids, do you use Therapy Dogs?

[Kyoko]

At this moment, I don't.... I think therapy dog treatment and conventional mental health treatment is a bit different, and bureaucratic health insurance company will have to approve the treatment plan including the threapy dog as a modality of the treatment. ( Complicated... sigh ) I wanted to have my labradoodle Charlie to go through the therapy dog classes, but her personality will not fit the criteria. ( She is very reactive and nervous) So, unfortunately, it will not work and it will be too nerve wrecking and stressful for her. I now have a standard poodle Pinot Grigio, who is really mellow and nonchalant. He passed CGC at 7 1/2 months old, and currently in TDI prep course. He will not take a test until he is a year old, but I hope that he can be a therapy dog.... If he can, then I would like to take him to the autistic school where I work during the month of July for their summer camp...( I hope to make this summer the last summer working for them simply because I need summer off and a bit of a break.... And if I do that, once Pinot pass the test I can take him there for an hour or so every so often...)

[Cindy Bowles]

Good for you for taking care of yourself and taking a break, I think that is great that Mr. Pinot Grigio can be a therapy dog...my cousin always has her dogs therapy certified and takes them to hospitals, etc., I just beleive animals are very healing.

[Kyoko]

I beleive so, too!! I think someone posted on the blog part that her local children's hospital began allowing the patient's own dog to visit during the hospitalization....

 

[F, Calla & Luca]

Kyoko, your journey is very inspiring.Congratulations on your degree.