Author Archives: Jeff Brain

Most parents recognize that quality schools and programs have independent oversight from either licensing or accrediting organizations (depending on state), and that provides some measure of confidence that the school is adhering to established standards of professional best practice and … Continue reading →

Interesting how time changes our perspective.  For so many prospective and new parents, FFS is an intervention for their child, stemming from fear and desperation and with fragile hope for what might be.  But for alumni parents who wrote to me … Continue reading →

A recent experience with an alumni student reminded me that the way we measure success may need to be redefined.  At 1:30 in the morning, an alumni student showed up at the school asking for help.  He walked away from … Continue reading →

Check out this interesting and informative article from “Survival Mom”: http://thesurvivalmom.com/2012/07/07/7-vital-skills-to-teach-your-children-that-will-trump-an-ivy-league-education/ She hits the mark dead on.  We should all be focusing on these with the children and adolescents we are responsible for – both by teaching and modeling. I … Continue reading →

When we left Steve at FFS on January 11, 2011, we could not imagine his going on to anything more than community college or some kind of training program for a trade.  To have him enter a first-class college is … Continue reading →

A checklist for parents when visiting a therapeutic boarding school or similar program.  (c)  Jeff Brain 2009 1. Be open minded. You are seeking a unique learning and therapeutic environment for your child since he/she has not been successful in … Continue reading →

For parents – one of the most important but hardest days is when after all the research, touring, meeting students and staff, completing paperwork and making the transition the day actually comes when they bring their son or daughter to … Continue reading →

I am often asked about the applicability of the 12-steps to teenagers and even more for those without drug or alcohol abuse or dependence (or other similarly “addictive” behaviors such as internet, video-gaming, overeating, gambing, sex etc). In my response, … Continue reading →

I am moderately handy around the house and what I have learned is that if I have the right tools, I do a better job.  Without the right tools, it just won’t work.  I was reminded of this in a … Continue reading →

The December 2011 Monitor, a journal of the American Psychological Association (Vol  42, #11, page 11), reported and expanded on an article originally published in the September issue of the journal Science.  The article concludes that “contrary to many people’s … Continue reading →