This therapist helped clear a path for Mom to succeed, literally
When I think of summer, my mind wanders to the feelings and smells of a summer day—the sun’s warmth on my skin, the taste of BBQ and other treats, the smell of freshly cut grass and the sound of the lawn mower zipping through the ever-growing jungle that we call a yard. There is something therapeutic about cutting the grass, but sometimes it is more than just about mowing the lawn, as one of my therapists for a team on my caseload found out during a recent session.
Joyce had been working with a mom and her child for several months, starting right after the snow melted. During her home visits, Joyce noticed that the grass was getting higher and higher, and the family was struggling—not just with their lawn, but with the young person’s behaviors, basic needs and mom’s own struggle with depression. These barriers prevented the family from getting the basic things done around the house—including taking care of the lawn.
Tearing down obstacles
Over several sessions, Joyce worked with the mom to remove walls that got in the way of parenting and basic household chores. Even though the family struggled, Joyce stayed in there—supporting them every step of the way. After a few months, she reported the lawn was finally getting cut.
During one session, the therapist went outside her job description and helped the caregiver cut the lawn with a push mower. Joyce and her supervisor couldn’t help laughing when Joyce returned to the office covered with grass and dirt and a little overheated. I was amazed and proud of the “Whatever it Takes” spirit that Joyce exhibited with this case. The intervention, although a little unconventional, cleared a path for the family.
Not only did it clear a path to get into the house, it cleared a path for the caregiver. After this lawn-mowing intervention, mom appears more in charge—ready to take on whatever is in front of her, whether it be the lawn or her young person’s behavioral struggles. MST is a therapy model like no other. Our therapists will do things to help our families in very unconventional ways.
Joyce helped mom look beyond the small stuff. By concentrating on what matters, conflict has been reduced. The sweat that Joyce and the mom put into that mowing the lawn paid off more than they could have imagined.
Susan Ofstein is an MST Expert at Community Solutions, Inc.
To learn more about what makes MST an effective intervention, download this white paper.
