Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches

What Families Want Therapists to Know About Schizophrenia (Ep. 55)

October 27, 2022 Randye Kaye Season 3 Episode 5
Schizophrenia: Three Moms in the Trenches
What Families Want Therapists to Know About Schizophrenia (Ep. 55)
Show Notes

Guest: Leah Brennan, Leah Brennan, LMFT, CADC 

Leah Brennan is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Certified Alcohol and Other Drug Counselor.  

Leah got connected to 3 Moms In the Trenches through her clients. Over the past five years, she has had four different parents on her caseload who were all confronting the reality that their sons met the criteria for a diagnosis of schizophrenia. 

 Leah realized that despite her excellent training, she was not adequately equipped to help these parents navigate the challenges they were facing. 

 Leah has a lot of questions for the 3 Moms community that all center around the theme: "What Do Parents/Families Wish Their Therapist Knew About Schizophrenia?"

 

She asks us:  

How can mental health providers better communicate a diagnosis of SMI when we make it? 

What do therapists/mental health providers need to understand about HIPAA? 

What should therapists know about THC or other substances being used in relation to dx of SMI?

  What should caregivers/advocates/parents look for when partnering with a psychiatrist and treatment team for their child?

 What kind of mental health support is useful when the family isn’t in crisis/loved one is stable?

 What needs to be taught at graduate level courses for LMFTs, LCSWs, LCPCs , etc. re: treating families impacted by a diagnosis of SMI? 

How can/Who should therapists alert and educate in the larger communities BEFORE kids reach the age when symptoms of SMI typically start to manifest? 

We ask Leah:

  • What can therapy do for me as a parent of a child with a diagnosis of schizophrenia? 
  • How would you assure someone who wasn't fully comfortable engaging in therapy that it would be a good use of time/validating?

 

Links:

Leah Brennan: 

https://www.leahbrennantherapy.com/


Mindy and her book: https://mindygreiling.com/

Randye and her book: https://benbehindhisvoices.com/

Miriam and her book: https://www.miriam-feldman.com/


 




Hosts:

Who:

Randye Kaye - was a morning Radio Personality bringing humor to CT families when her own son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Now she is still a Broadcaster, Actress, Voice Talent, Speaker, and Author (Ben Behind his Voices, Happier Made Simple)

Miriam Feldman -  is an artist, writer, and the mother of an adult son with schizophrenia. Her book, "He Came in With It" chronicles her family's story and was released to rave reviews on July 21st, 2020.

Mindy Greiling - Mindy Greiling was a member of the Minnesota House of Representatives for twenty years. She helped found the nation's first state mental health caucus, which successfully lobbied for a significant increase in Minnesota's mental health funding Her acclaimed memoir is “Fix What You Can.” 





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Randye Kaye
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