Finding You: by Dr. Brad Reedy

Dr. Reedy explores the concepts of grit, resilience, and growth mindset. With these ideas as a foundation, he explains how the nomadic model of wilderness therapy produces the most effective outcomes. He shares Evoke's outcomes compared to the other wilderness therapy outcomes.

Dr. Reedy explains the value of a mindfulness practice. Several readings from Melody Beattie's daily reader, "The Language of Letting Go" are offered and discussed. Topics discussed include letting go, self-care, pain, letting things happen, freedom, and honoring your roots.

Dr. Reedy provides an overview of Joseph Campbell's concept of "The Hero's Journey" and he explains how each of us can use it to navigate life's challenges. Parents with struggling children are called to embark on a heroic journey and overcome fears to find "the life that is waiting for them."

Dr. Reedy discusses the do's and don'ts of behavioral reinforcement with children. He discusses the difference between control and strictness and how children can flourish with varying levels of structure, but suffer when there is emotional coercion and shame. He also talks about how, developmentally, children learn from the outside-in and parents tempted to lecture or debate are avoiding the difficult work of boundaries.

Dr. Reedy reviews the book by Krissy Pozatek, Brave Parenting: A Buddhist Inspired Guide to Raising Resilient Children. He discusses the value of listening and being present with your child's feelings and how children develop resiliency through dealing with challenges.

Dr. Reedy explains the value of immersion into the culture of wilderness therapy and how the use of metaphor, ritual, and distance help to create a powerful, experiential intervention. He shares some of the jargon from wilderness therapy and how this creates a sense of belonging for participants.

Dr. Brad Reedy discusses the effects of adoption on attachment. He summarizes the book by Sherrie Eldridge, "Twenty Things Adopted Kids Wish Their Adoptive Parents Knew." Parents with and without adopted children learn about how the quality of attachment affects resilience. Parents are shown how to support children in grieving.

Dr. Reedy talks about how to avoid to power struggles with your children. He explains how to "lose" and avoid the trap of trying to be "good" or "right".

Dr. Reedy discusses how boundaries and synonymous with self-care, how the principle role of boundaries is not to teach others a lesson, and how parents need to give up "being right"--and learn how to lose.

Dr. Reedy talks about the how pain and wounded-ness lie beneath our symptoms and diagnoses. He talks about how to see the pain beneath the symptom and how this frame offers healing. He also talks about how therapy changes the base and leads to transformation. Lastly, he calls on parents to do their own work, heal their own trauma, and how their primary goal is to support the development of a child's sense of self.