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Mental Health Support Groups for Children and Adolescents
Rael Reddick, Facilitator (and Mom)
303.663.3709 or ericontrol@hotmail.com
Over the years of turmoil and triumph in dealing with our son's mental illness, we realized this demon, bipolar, wasn’t a demon at all. Our son was lucky to be diagnosed so young. He has the gift of time on his side. Time to learn his “illness” is not a curse. We had support groups for ourselves, which we needed. But what about our son? He’s tired of therapy and desperately needed to interact with kids that understood him.
That’s when I came up with the E.R.I.C. Program. E.R.I.C. (Everyone Remains In Control) is age-specific support groups for children diagnosed with a mental illness. The age groups are 8-10, 11-13 and 14-16 consisting of a MAXIMUM of 8 children, mediated by two Master’s-level graduate students from local area universities. Groups are also broken down by primary diagnosis. This way every child is among peers with a like diagnosis who truly understands. Groups meet weekly for 2 hours. All we ask is the children agree to attend 4 groups in a row. Afterward if they choose not to come they don’t have to. These groups are ongoing and all at NO COST! This is strictly support! If we give these children the support of each other maybe they won’t feel so isolated when they’re alone.
Through the help of local mental health networks, groups are starting all around the Front Range. Waiting lists have been started for these groups so call today to give your child the support he/she deserves.
Page Last Updated: January 2, 2004
