The Blog of P.U.R.E. and Sue Scheff

Many parents call us all the time with two scenarios. 1)  My teen refuses to go to a therapist or counselor or 2)  My teen has been in therapy for years and it hasn't made a difference.  Even has changed therapist several times and nothing changes. So why will residential treatment make a difference? Fact is, we don't have a crystal ball but there is definitely a difference.  The one-on-one therapy once a week at home (in a doctor's office) is completely different than being in a therapeutic setting where all your child's activity is geared towards building him up to make better choices and also helping him to reflect on why he was making the negative ones that brought him to where he is now. Removing your teen from their comfort zone of home and mostly of their peer group can substantially change the way they think and react to situations.  You can finally peel back the layer they have to protect their egos (attitudes) and determine where all this...

Do you use 4-letter words? In the baby's (teen's) ears and out of their mouth. Swearing, cussing and meanness , that is how many school hallways are described.  When does a teen start using these four letter words ? How can we move from a cussing culture of cruelty to one of compassion and caring? McKay Hatch, 17 year-old California student created a No Cussing Club in 2007.  Isn't it time that Broward County and others follow this lead? Take the No Cussing Challenge, changing the world one word at a time... The words we use affect how we feel about ourselves, how others react to us and how others feel about themselves.  Our words truly shape our world. Thousands of people have taken this challenge and told the No Cussing Club about the positive affect it has had in their lives. Does cussing lead to bullying or instigate bullying ?  According to a recent NY Times article, some experts say the notion that cursing leads to bullying is misguided....