The
Discovery Program
The DISCOVERY Program was developed to address the problem of sexual acting out among 10-12 year olds, an age group especially vulnerable to society's confusing messages about sexuality
Being a pre-teen today is not easy. Kids are exposed to a constant stream of images in the media that exploit youth's developmentally normal strivings for independence and belonging by linking these desires with being sexually attractive and sexually active (and of course by selling products that make youth feel more attractive). The Internet is everywhere and even sophisticated filters can't entirely prevent kids from accessing hard-core pornography. Families struggle to balance the demands of work with the need to provide support and supervision for their children. It's not surprising we are seeing more pre-teens who show signs of sexual confusion: inappropriate masturbation, sexual activity with younger children; etc. Generally, these are children who act older than their age in a sexual sense but lag behind in other important areas of psychological/interpersonal development.
The DISCOVERY Program is a structured weekly outpatient program designed to help pre-teens place their sexuality in a developmentally appropriate context of self- and interpersonal respect.
Through a combination of family, group, and individual therapy, the
DISCOVERY Program addresses four main goals: safety (for the child, family, and community), self-awareness, other awareness, and an understanding of healthy sexuality. Our treatment philosophy is that sexual acting out in children is an expression of non-sexual feelings and needs through the vehicle of sexual behavior. Our challenge, then, in meeting these goals is to give children the skills to express these feelings and needs in a non-sexual way, and to help families learn to recognize what their kids are communicating to them. When a youth graduates from the program, they will:
-
have learned more adaptive ways to meet their needs
-
understand the laws relating to sexual behavior
-
know the difference between developmentally
normal and unhealthy sexual behaviors
-
have a clear sense of their responsibilities and
rights within their families
-
in cases in which the youth victimized another
child, be able to clarify their responsibility for their
behavior and demonstrate empathy
-
have improved social skills and self-esteem
How is the DISCOVERY Program structured?
Youth and their families will begin the program together, with an emphasis on establishing a working alliance in weekly individual and family therapy. In the entry phase of treatment, the family will create a safety plan and a supervision plan for their child, and will also complete an inventory of beliefs, boundaries, and behaviors in regard to relationships and sexuality. In individual therapy, youth will be working on identifying feelings and needs, on victimization issues, and on developing age-appropriate interests and activities.
When the family has completed their initial tasks, a second phase
of treatment begins as the youth enters group therapy. The weekly
group session allows kids to work on their four major goal areas in
a social laboratory where more adaptive interpersonal strategies can be practiced. To support this practicing of new interpersonal skills, a reward/recognition program is built into the group session. During the group therapy phase of treatment, weekly individual treatment continues and family sessions are scheduled every three weeks.
When the youth has made substantial progress in the four major goal areas, they enter the transition phase, in which they graduate from the group and family work is re-emphasized in order to reinforce the family's role in assuring that the youth continues to progress toward developmental milestones.
In the majority of cases, it is expected that youth and their families will complete the program within six to eight months.
Where is the DISCOVERY Program located?
All services are provided at our Minneapolis clinic location, at 2414 Park Avenue (approximately a mile south of downtown
Minneapolis).
What is the admission procedure for the DISCOVERY Program?
All children referred to the program should have a psychosexual evaluation, which addresses the nature of the sexual behavior problems and assesses treatment readiness. This evaluation can be done by staff at Lutheran Social Service of Minnesota or by other community providers who specialize in working with children with sexual problems.
How are services paid for?
Treatment at the DISCOVERY Program is paid for by insurance, third-party payers (such Blue Cross/Blue Shield or Medicaid), and by families themselves. Families who would have a financial hardship in paying the cost of treatment out-of-pocket in many cases will be able to receive assistance from their county social service departments. A payment plan will always be agreed on before a youth is admitted for assessment or treatment at the DISCOVERY Program.
Whom should I contact if I want more information about the DISCOVERY Program?
Contact Judd Swanson at 612-879-5342 with additional questions or to begin the referral process.
