Parent's Corner

Your Involvement

This information will help your child's stay here at Outback be a healing and uplifting experience for all of you. There are several things that you as parents can do as we begin the process of working with your child.

Leadership and Self-Deception

Purchase and read the book Leadership and Self Deception by The Arbinger Institute. You can purchase this book online at Amazon.com or check with the nearest Barnes and Noble. This short, easy-to-read book will give you additional tools and skills that reflect how we work and interact with the children during their stay with us. We suggest reading this in the next couple of days, before writing the placement letter.

Placement Letter

Before writing your placement letter, please talk to your Outback Therapist. Please write a two-to-three page typewritten letter to your child explaining your placement decision. Please use the principles of Leadership and Self Deception to guide your words as you list the specific behaviors that led to your decision to place your child at Outback.

This letter should also include your feelings regarding the placement, a paragraph of encouragement for your child, a list of his/her strengths and positive experiences, and your feelings about your child. This letter will be used to guide your child's Outback process.

Parent Manual

The parent manual (which you will receive when your child is admitted to Outback) was prepared to help you find answers to your questions about our program. It also provides information that will help you assist us as we strive to provide a meaningful experience for your child. The Parent Manual contains detailed program information and is for parents' use only. Please talk to your child's Outback therapist before revealing any information from the manual to your child. It is crucial to your child's progress through the program that you not share information with your child inappropriately, as this can reduce their ability to focus on their current experience, and can impair their ability to gain the maximum benefit from the program. If you have any questions or need any additional assistance, please feel free to call your Outback therapist or another office staff member.

Weekly Letters

Each week you can send letters to your child (FAX: (801) 766-3932; E-mail: mail@outbacktreatment.com). Please send these letters by noon on Fridays. The therapists will then take these letters to your child on therapy days. Any letters your child writes to you will be faxed to you on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Friday mornings. If you have questions or concerns regarding the letter process, please call Jeannine at our office number.

Phone Calls

After your child arrives, our admissions director will call you to confirm your child's arrival and give you the name and contact information of the therapist assigned to your child. Please contact your therapist to set up your Wednesday appointments. You will be asked to call the office at your scheduled times to gain additional insights from you, involve you in the treatment planning, and start the aftercare process with you.

Parent Workshop

In addition to your weekly phone calls, Outback offers parent workshop seminars twice a month. Parents are asked to attend one workshop (usually around the fourth or fifth week of the child's placement). This workshop starts with a one-day seminar to explore the underlying concepts, strategies, and philosophies of the Outback program, as well as ideas and skills for working with teenagers. The following morning you will drive out to the field to reunite with your child and participate in a family session. Although it is not required, Outback strongly recommends you attend this workshop. Please discuss the details of the seminar and your visit with your therapist.