Wishing you a HAPPY 4TH OF JULY from Quest!!!
I hope that this monthly installment of our newsletter finds you happy, healthy, and ready for fireworks! I can't believe it, but camp starts Monday!
Please checkout our website for
our detailed calendar and more information!
LAST MINUTE SIGN UPS HAPPENING NOW!!!
Announcements:
We are asking you to partner with us to help scholarship children into the Quest program who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it. We now have two ways that you can help us in this endeavor.
1. Contribute by donating money to our scholarship fund through the American Camp Association.
These donations are tax deductible and are held specifically by the ACA for our local Quest campers. To donate please click here and type in "Quest Therapeutic Camps of Southern California" for the camp that you would like to donate to.
2. Download the Communities for Cause app and some of your regular shopping helps fund kids into Quest.
This issue of our newsletter features a summary of a recent article regarding research on behavioral programs that I thought you might find interesting. At Quest, we are proud to provide an innovative treatment program through our therapeutic summer camp and school year rock climbing therapy groups that have been proven to reduce problem behaviors not only at camp, but in school, at home, and in everyday life. We hope that our newsletter will be a source of support and applicable information to improve the lives of the amazing children and families in our community.
Sincerely,
Jodie Knott, Ph.D.
Director and Licensed Psychologist
Quest Therapeutic Camps of Southern California
Long-Term Benefits of Behavioral Therapy
In May of this year, the Scientific American published an article titled, "Not-so-quick fix: ADHD behavioral therapy may be more effective than drugs in long run." I found this article interesting and wanted to share it in the newsletter since it focuses on how stimulant medications may help children focus and have better classroom behavior, but that programs focusing on making behavior changes may make more of a difference in the long-term.
The author of the article, SciCurious, states:
A new synthesis of behavioral, cognitive and pharmacological findings emerged at the recent Experimental Biology meeting, held last month in San Diego, where experts in ADHD research and treatment gathered to present their work. Their findings suggest that behavioral and cognitive therapies focused on reducing impulsivity and reinforcing positive long-term habits may be able to replace current high doses of stimulant treatment in children and young adults.
The article goes on to cite research related to how behavioral change programs can have lasting effects regarding ADHD with different groups from children, college students, and parents of children with attention difficulties. Regarding college students, the author cites research from Dr. Advokat at Louisiana State University that suggests that working to develop better study habits is what is most likely to translate into better grades and that medication and behavioral programs that target developing good study habits is crucial. This research also suggests that less medication may be needed once good study habits are established. Research conducted by Dr. Pelham of Florida International University suggests that for parents who utilize more skills to manage stress through behavioral interventions are shown to increase how well their children behave at home and in the classroom. Dr. Schweitzer's research, out of the MIND Institute at UC Davis, is also cited as evidence regarding how cognitive interventions with children can help them improve control over their minds and may reduce the need for medication.
The article ends with a note that Advokat, Pelham, Schweitzer, and many other scientists agree that there should be a "renewed focus" on behavioral therapies since these programs create no drug tolerance, create no concerns regarding substance abuse, and may be the most effective for long-term treatment. The author cites how it will be important to decipher which behavioral therapy programs are most effective.
Article by SciCurious, Not-so-quick fix: ADHD behavioral therapy may be more effective than drugs in long run. Scientific American, http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=adhd-behavioral-therapy-more-effective-drugs-long-term
