Jayson Blair

A month ago I was referred a client with attention deficit disorder who had been kicked out of his school because he was found with a mild opioid prescription pill. His parents were concerned and found deeper substance abuse problems that the school was unaware of after they investigated. With the help of his psychiatrist, who referred him to me, I was able to put together a treatment plan that the the Fairfax County School Board's Hearings Office -- the discipline arm of one of the nation's largest and highest performing school system's -- credited with their decision to allow him to return to school. Whooohooo!

Had lunch today at a practice where I am a contractor with John Grego, a counselor and admissions official, at the Greenbriar Academy for Girls . I have been increasingly impressed by the therapeutic boarding schools for high school students and college students that are a welcome alternative to some of the wilderness programs -- not all wilderness programs are bad -- where my clients have had trouble. My attraction to these schools came first from seeing the teenagers and young adults with bipolar who had benefited from them in the Depression Bipolar Support Alliance-Northern Virginia group I facilitated in Centreville. Greenbriar is located in a valley of the Appalachian Mountain range, offers strong academic programs, equestrian therapeutic programs, one-on-one counseling, case management and medication management. John invited me to come down to the school and to give a talk to the staff and counselors. I'm looking forward to doing so.

Met on Thursday with Mark Brownell, a Loudoun County, Va. Sheriff's deputy, assigned to the Juvenile Court Services Unit . Mark talked with me and colleagues about a wide array of services they offer juveniles who end up in trouble. Among the services are interventions, where Mark and his colleagues attempt to get juveniles resources they need before they need up on probation or in jail. We met Mark through one of my client's mothers who was able to use his help to explain some of the potential consequences of substance abuse and other issues to my client.