Failed Promises, Last Resorts, and Psychotherapy

Although the focus of this book is on the brain-disabling, spellbinding effects of biological treatments in psychiatry, it is important to conclude with a reminder that there are better alternatives in the form of psychological, social, and educational interventions. 

Adults who are negotiating life relatively well can often nonetheless benefit from individual counseling or therapy. Couples therapy can often help people lead happier, more fulfilled lives. Emotionally disabled adults, including those diagnosed as schizophrenic, usually need comprehensive help that involves responsible members of the family and community resources. 

Children, especially those who have not reached adolescence, respond best to therapies that focus on the adults in their lives. When the adults improve their approach to the child, the child improves. Even with children who have been diagnosed with serious disorders, I spend much more time with the parents than with the child, teaching them improved ways of relating to their offspring. I may also work directly with the school to develop a consistent approach, or I may have the parents communicate with the school about how they are implementing new approaches to their child. 

Children who are on the verge of being institutionalized in a mental facility or prison often need something more extensive than the services 

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