The Parallel Process and the Summit Parenting Program
Here at Summit Achievement, we believe that a strong family component is an integral part of the treatment process and plays a significant role in the success of the child after leaving Summit Achievement. We partnered with renowned author and parent coach Krissy Pozatek, MSW to design our innovative Summit Achievement Parallel Process Curriculum. Just as students move through six levels in our Achievement program, parents/guardians will move through their own six levels to grow alongside their child.
Upon enrollment, all Summit families receive a digital copy of our Summit Achievement Parallel Process Curriculum as well as a copy of the book, The Parallel Process by Krissy Pozatek, MSW. In addition, parents/guardians participate in a minimum of six sessions of parent coaching with Nick Faraldi, MSW, our Director of Parent Support. These differ from family therapy and are designed to reflect on parenting patterns and develop skills to help parents/guardians reflect on communication patterns and family dynamics, as well as plan for visits and the child’s return home after treatment.
What is the Parallel Process?
The Parallel Process is an innovative approach that recognizes the interconnectedness of family dynamics and individual healing. It goes beyond treating just the adolescent; it emphasizes the importance of addressing the family unit as a whole. This method ensures that when one member of the family changes or grows, it has a positive ripple effect throughout the system, benefiting everyone involved. Summit Achievement has effectively integrated this powerful process into its treatment strategies, making it a cornerstone of the therapeutic work that they do with families. The Parallel Process acknowledges that families often hold unresolved emotional challenges and dysfunctional patterns that impact their ability to support their child’s growth.
In parallel to the work being done with the child, the family participates in their own therapeutic process. This focuses on learning how to develop healthier communication styles, set appropriate boundaries, and support their child’s progress in a way that’s empowering for both parties.
What are the Benefits of the Parallel Process at Summit Achievement?
- Strengthening Family Bonds: One of the most immediate benefits of the Parallel Process is the strengthening of family relationships. By giving parents the tools they need to manage their own emotional responses and improve communication with their child, Summit Achievement helps to create a more nurturing and supportive environment for growth. When parents and their children are working on their issues together, trust is built, and family connections are reinforced.
- Improved Emotional Regulation: The Parallel Process provides parents with the opportunity to understand the emotional struggles their children are going through, which in turn helps them to regulate their own emotional responses. Families are taught to model emotional intelligence and healthy coping mechanisms, which leads to better outcomes for everyone.
- Empowering Parents and Guardians: The Parallel Process also empowers parents to become more active participants in their child’s healing journey. Instead of feeling like passive onlookers, parents are given practical skills and strategies to help their children succeed. This boosts parents’ confidence in their ability to support their child, which is crucial for long-term success.
- Breaking Dysfunctional Patterns: Many families that seek treatment for their children are dealing with longstanding dysfunctional patterns of behavior. The Parallel Process helps to break these cycles by addressing both the child’s and the family’s roles in these dynamics. This creates a positive shift that can impact the entire family’s future well-being.
- Sustaining Progress After Treatment: Summit Achievement understands that the therapeutic work doesn’t stop once a child leaves the program. By using the Parallel Process, families are equipped to continue supporting their child’s progress long after treatment. Parents are given the tools to navigate challenges that may arise in the future, which ensures that the positive changes made during the program are maintained.
Why Summit Achievement’s Parent Program is Different, and Why It Works!
Summit Achievement is committed to treating families as a whole, rather than focusing on just the adolescent and the Parallel Process is a critical part of this holistic approach. The program recognizes that both individuals and families need healing and support in order to achieve lasting recovery and growth.
The parent program at Summit Achievement is a deeply immersive therapeutic experience where parents and guardians are given the space to reflect on their own behaviors and emotions, while also learning how to better support their children. This creates a collaborative dynamic between families and treatment providers, resulting in a more successful and sustainable therapeutic outcome.
By working with both the child and their family, the Parallel Process ensures that progress isn’t isolated to one member of the family but instead ripples throughout the entire system. The integration of the Parallel Process offers families a unique opportunity for transformation and a long-term solution to the challenges they face.
If your teenager is struggling with their mental health and you are considering treatment options, perhaps Summit Achievement could be right for your family. Reach out to Admissions today.