LUZERNE COUNTY JUDGES INDICTED IN CORRUPTION PROBE- PROFITING FROM SENDING JUVENILES TO DETENTION FACILITIES

These judges in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania violated the public trust and have harmed children. I had spoken in the past about these concerns, and it is very positive that action to bring these public officials to task. However- I have also noted that Luzerne County is not the only place where this sort of corruption appears to be occurring. We must continue to be diligent and expose these sort of situations and do what is right for our children! I will certainly be collaborating with a number of grassroots organizations and others on these issues throughout Pennsylvania and nationwide. I am pleased to say that in all of the situations I have been involved in that seemed grim and hopeless, with much determination and patience, justice was won. We must press on.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.info





Update: Judges indicted in Luzerne corruption probe



The Luzerne County Courthouse.


By MICHAEL R. SISAK AND MICHAEL P. BUFFER
STAFF REPORT
Published: Monday, January 26, 2009
Updated: Monday, January 26, 2009 1:43 PM EST
Two Luzerne County judges were indicted this morning on charges relating to the operation of two juvenile detention centers.

President Judge Mark A. Ciavarella, 58, and former President Judge Michael T. Conahan are accused of collecting more than $2 million from the construction, expansion and operation of juvenile detention facilities, and for placing juveniles in those facilities in Luzerne County and Western Pennsylvania.

The indictment charges both judges with engaging in a scheme to defraud the public of their honest services and with conspiring to defraud the IRS.


Ciavarella and Conahan have filed a plea agreement, signed by both judges. The judges stipulated they will resign their judgeship and be disbarred. They will serve 87 months in federal prison and make restitution as stipulated by the court.


Earlier today, Judge Chester B. Muroski announced Ciavarella resigned as Luzerne County president judge.

Muroski's secretary, Sean Duesler, handed out copies of a one-line note Ciavarella sent to Gov. Rendell dated Jan. 23. It said, "Please accept this letter as my official notice to you that I am resigning effective immediately from my position as President Judge of the Eleventh District." (Read Ciavarella's resignation letter / Watch video of Muroski's press conference)

Ciavarella sent copies of the letter to the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and to his eight colleagues on the Luzerne County bench.

Muroski, the eldest member of the Luzerne County judiciary, will oversee the administration of the courts until an en banc meeting can be scheduled and a vote of the judges taken. State law requires the meeting be held after 72 hours notice is given.

"I am confident that the current members of this court are prepared to address the following priorities in an expedition manner," Muroski said at an 11:30 a.m. news conference in his court room on the third floor of the Luzerne County Courthouse.

"First, to maintain the function of this court by conducting the business of our court on a timely basis.

"Second, to make every effort to restore public trust and confidence in the judiciary. And third, to make a concerted effort to resolve the county-court budget impasse and the related litigation."

U.S. Attorney Martin Carlson scheduled a 1:30 p.m. press conference at the federal courthouse to discuss an ongoing probe into the Luzerne County Courthouse.

COMMUNITY ALLIANCE FOR THE ETHICAL TREATMENT OF YOUTH

I was very delighted yesterday to have a telephone conversation with Dr. Charles Huffine, M.D., a psychiatrist in Seattle, Washington who has been a dedicated advocate for children and has written extensively on reisdential treatment centers, particularly the abuses that occur in these facilities as well as their being costly and ineffective. I was also pleased to learn of his work with CAFETY (Community Alliance for the Ethical Treatment of Youth) and the winderful work this organization is doing towards advocating for the true needs of our young people.
http://www.cafety.org
I believe that the more we work together, the greater difference we can make. I know many (including myself) feel disillusioned at times by the enormous problems within the system, but if we can work together, and each make our contribution as people of ethics and goodness, the difference will be seen in time, we must be patient.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.info

SUPPORT HR6358- THE STOP CHILD ABUSE IN RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS FOR TEENS ACT

This important legislation has been passed in the House and will be introduced in the Senate in 2009. Please contact your Senators to support this legislation!

RD LAING AND THE NATURE OF EVIL

http://laingsociety.org/colloquia/peaceconflict/natureofevil.jgm.htm

THINKING ABOUT MYSTIFICATION

RD Laing had often discussed the conception of mystification, of how individuals can justify enormous evils by saying that are doing the action for someone's own good. It appears that the psychiatric establishment and the systems intimately connected to it (child protective services, justice system, educational system) are often involved in mystification. The Nazi era is one of the most tragic examples of mystification, and such examples today as the Abu Ghraib prison scandal are a more graphic example. In these situations, mystification involves dehumanization, of erasing the person's experience, and making them something other than a person. And so we see this occur in psychiatric hospitals, detention centers, residential treatment facilities, etc.

LIES AND VESTED INTERESTS- THE CORRUPTION INHERENT IN THE JUVENILE JUSTICE AND CPS SYSTEMS

In one of my more heartbreaking situations, I had worked with a 14 year old young man in Wyoming County, Pennsylvania for some time. This young man had encountered domestic violence, physical and sexual abuse, and witnessed the drug use of his father and a suicide attempt of his mother. His situation was very complicated, yet through this I was able to develop a strong relationship with this often very distrustful young person. Through this alliance, he was able to share with me much of the darkness of his world, many things he found difficult to share with his family members, and until an incident last year, he had been progressing to the point where the psychologist and treatment team were recommending his discharge. However, after this incident, I noticed a gradual change and unfortunate decline, and he began association with a number of negative peers. I knew things were bound for trouble and warned him of this. I knew as well that his deep need for attention, affection, and validation were becoming confused in the midst of his awakening sexuality and in light of the past trauma and abuse he experienced. I noticed that as the new school year began, he began putting up distance with me, and it was shortly thereafter that 'all hell broke loose' with him becoming involved in the juvenile justice system. He was charged in regards to an incident where he had thoughts in regards to sexual abuse, but did not actually follow through with this action. The juvenile system as well as the Wyoming County Human Services Agency handled this young man's situation in a means that was far from compassionate, far from rehabilitative, and actually detrimental to his emotional well being. After investigation and obtaining information from colleagues, I determined that a number of youth with similar charges had received far less harsh treatment by the system. I also found that while the system wrangled over who paid for what, they allowed this child to be ripped from his family (causing trauma for his young siblings as well who remain confused as to this circumstance) and to languish with no connections to anyone and his prior therapeutic alliance completely cut off and no help provided. He was 'evaluated' but never was any information in regards to his past victimization or prior treatment considered. He has been recommended for a residential treatment facility in Erie, PA. Curious enough, this facility (which is 6 hours away) houses another youth from the same area. In light of the recent charges brought against Luzerne County Judges Conahan and Ciavarella in regards to taking kickbacks for sending youth to detention facilities, one could easily suspect a similar situation occurring here. According to F.E. Zimring (2004) of the University of Chicago, 90% of juvenile sex offenses are a one time event that do not recur. The NCSBY indicates that the vast majority of these youth can be helped in community based programs. However, this information was obviously ignored. According to a report from the Judge Bazelon Center for Mental Health Law, residential facilities have often had low rates of success, are highly costly, and abuses have occurred (overuse of psychiatric drugs, injuries involving restraint, and seclusion).
See: http://www.bazelon.org/issues/children/factsheets/rtcs.htm
In addition, the residential treatment facility that was recommended was asked to provide a plan of correction in 2007 because of inappropriate incidents that occurred at the facility. This information is publicly available from the Department of Public Welfare. In addition, after dialoguing with a person previouslt affiliated with the managed care company which often provided funding fot this residential treatment facility in Erie, Pennsylvania, I was informed that there have been a number of incidents of abuses, particularly improper restraints, and children have been hurt by inappropriate staff. But this did not prevent the Wyoming County caseworker from trying to sell this facility as it were a 'godsend'.
In spite of this information as well, the system continues its agenda as it appears evident that there are vested interests.
I am sadly quite sure that this is not the first of many incidents of distressed and disadvantaged youth whose needs are not truly being met by a corrupt system claiming to help but only concerned for their own interests. It is a travesty, and it is necessary for those truly concerned for the well being of our youth to continue the struggle to insure that our children's voices are truly heard, and that we address the needs of troubled youth in a rehabilitative and compassionate manner.
I so greatly appreciate the efforts of those who have stood with me in this important struggle. We will NEVER give up, no matter what games are played, what corruption we must tackle. Our kids are too important.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.info

REHABILITATION OF JUVENILES- MEETING THEIR TRUE NEEDS AND ENDING THE SYSTEM'S CYCLE OF GREED

When parents are not adequate often Child Protective Services steps in. But is the State to be deemed a better parent? Who do we report to when the State is abusive, possibly more so than the natural parents of the child? We see youth placed in detention facilities and residential facilities. In these settings, they are placed often under conditions that lead them to further emotional distress. It appears that this is the game. The decisions to place children is often not based on a genuine interest in the child's best interests, but what will be profitable and the easiest way out of having to actually rehabilitate a youth and meet their emotional needs. It is no wonder that the socio-economically disadvantaged youth are the ones that are so frequently seen in this system. Some of these children have been taught through their family dynamics to be aggressive and to seek to dominate others. How does placing a child into a detention center or residential facility which often is geared towards the concept of staff forcing conformity through rewards and punishments and often by deprivation teach a child who seeks to use power inappropriately that this is wrong? How does a militaristic system teach anything but that the child must submit to someone stronger than themselves? It only reinforces wrong ideas about power and domination. These facilities are bound to create new emotional problems for these children. But the system profits here as well, because then they are able to label and drug the children and make money in the process of billing for this injustice. These settings set youth up for failure, but that is part of the game as well. A youth is removed from the home, programmed, and when they conform to the expectations, released back to the setting that led to their madness and misbehavior to begin with. It becomes a vicious cycle. But there is money to be made. $70,000 a year for these type of placements, and if things go badly and they must return, well, here is more money to be made. If we spent $70,000 towards providing to the real needs of children and their families, we would be in a much better situation. We need to shift our focus to true rehabilitation and to addressing actual social problems, not locking our children away, drugging them into submission, and ignoring their needs. This may be a dream as long as money and greed remain the focus of those controlling this sick system.
In October 2008, I wrote to Governor Ed Rendell of Pennsylvania sharing some of the concerns I have outlined above as well as a specific situation. It was not until the end of November that I received a response from the Office of Children and Families which expressed "niceties" of how concerned they are for the welfare of the children of the Commonwealth and how the issue related would be looked into. It appears that because this family had a history of challenges, was disadvantaged (thus lacking representation and a real voice in the system), that Child Protective Services and others were able to push forward an agenda. To date, absolutely no action has been taken. This came to me as no surprise as it has been apparent that there are too many vested interests for any reforms to occur in the near future. However, I believe it is necessary for citizens and organizations committed to social justice and children to continue to fight the good fight. I believe that detention and residential centers should become a rarity if non-existent as it has been seen that there do exist community based programming that is far more effective and far more humane. Sadly, I have witnessed how disadvantaged children and particularly minority children are the ones more frequently subjected to these abuses I have mentioned. It is a travesty. We must look at juvenile offenders not merely as 'monsters' or 'troublemakers" but we must look at the underlying roots of why they become anti-social. Anti-social behavior arises as a result of the social, political, and familial processs at work. If society was not as ill as it is, if there existed equality, human rights, etc., it would be obvious that we would see a vast decline in emotional problems, crime, anti-social behaviors, etc.
We must re-examine our priorities. But as long as greed is at work and the desire to take the so-called 'easy way out', these abuses of our children will continue.
It is almost as if the system creates perpetually distressed or anti-social individuals as to keep everyone in their place. Rehabilitation is sadly far from the focus. The State officials can write all the niceties they want about how concerned they are for the children, but the words are empty without real action. And are we to assume that any of these high paid bureaucrats actualy are losing any sleep over the conditions that youth are subjected to? Definitely not.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.info

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.DrDanEdmunds.com

THE POWER OF LISTENING AND UNDERSTANDING

Sadly, in my work with children and adolescents I have come to the awareness of the fact that there are often many dysfunctional family dynamics and oppressive societal structures that impact these kids that I as one person cannot possibly change though If I could I would. This does not mean that I do not continue to challenge and resist those things that lead to distress and oppression. But, I must realize that many of these young people are placed in situations that are almost like a prison sentence. They cannot escape it, and many times these dynamics tear them apart and often lead them to self-destruction. But, if it can be instilled that this prison sentence could be over in time, that self-destruction is not necessary, but that the person can overcome and be free. I realize that though I cannot change many of these things (largely because those perpetuating it do not want to change), what I can do is to provide these young people a time of respite, a time where they can feel safe and free from the burdens, and know that they have someone who will listen and respect their experience. This in itself is a great gift, and very powerful. It means so much to me when I hear from former clients who tell me what the time I spent with them, often just listening, meant to them. I cannot say that every client had the most wonderful outcome, some overcame, and some persisted in difficulties. But even the ones whose choices were poor and persisted in difficulties, when I spoke to them or corresponded with them, they would remind me of how much it meant to them to have someone on their side, someone who would listen and seek to understand.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.DrDanEdmunds.com

ADDICTION

When we examine the actual root of drug addiction, we find that simply put the root is unhappiness, discontent. If individuals lived in a society that was just, where equality and opportunity was present and there did not exist oppression and the current class divisions and economic hardships, there would be little desire for individuals to alter their state of consciousness as they would exist in a high level of contentment. Incarceration of people undergoing addiction does not resolve any issue, it does not provide them with new skills, it does not resolve the issues which led them to addiction. If we are truly to wage a 'war on drugs', then we must wage war against poverty, social injustice, and every means of oppression. We must radically change our attitudes and the ways society operates.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.info

INVOLUNTARY COMMITMENT

Oftentimes individuals are involuntarily committed to psychiatric facilities, deprived of their liberty based on the supposed premise that they are a threat either to themselves or to others. However, there are many individuals who are threats to themselves or others who we do not deprive of their liberty. Therefore, who we deem as dangerous is a subjective call. Unless a person has actually committed a criminal act, and has gone through due process, and been convicted, this should be the only time that a person's rights and liberty should be limited. This concept of 'dangerousness' is merely a means of social control, it is to separate from society those who we subjectively deem undesirable. If these persons actually have committed a dangerous act which has infringed on the rights of others, then this should be handled by criminal law procedures. This conception has been argued vehemently by those such as Thomas Szasz.


-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.info

SOCIAL INJUSTICE AND INEQUALITY- PEOPLE BEFORE PROFITS

We are seeing the collapse of our economic system based on the greed that has been inherent in this system. It is a disgrace that some individuals are able to accumulate wealth individually that is greater than that of some small nations while children are starving, and the middle class continues to shrink and struggle for their survival. It is the barriers of class, religion, race, and so forth that leads to conflict and ultimately our downfall. Our society has lost its sense of community and connectedness, and the desire for profit has caused us to lose sight of the humanity of others. All of these barriers lead to our isolation and alienation. We are each day become more and more alienated from each other, so absorbed into selfish interests. And even the so-called 'helping professions' have become more about the profits that can be gained that the true desire to be with others and to come to their aid. In the age of managed care organizations, the needs of distressed persons are limited by the elite's need to earn profit. The downtrodden are dehumanized, they are looked upon as lesser, and ultimately as a source of profit. They must be kept in their place. If they actually 'got better', where would the profits come from? So, it is easier to drug them into compliance and conformity. It is easier just to 'maintain them', as then we know that our profits are not in jeopardy. Is it possible for us to come to a point where we will place people before profits? What will it take? What must we do?

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.DrDanEdmunds.com

FREEDOM FOR CHILDREN

Children have been seen as property, with few rights, and subject to the domination of others who may not always have their best interests in mind. Children are viewed as slaves, as dependent. If adults treat them badly, they have little recourse. When the reach the arbitrary age of 18, they are then expected tom assume the role and responsibilities of an adult. What if we gave children the rights of adults and taught them responsibility from the beginning? Adult society has been involved in numerous wars, conflicts, attrocities, why do we think we know what is best for children, why do we think we know better than children themselves? Holt (1973) suggested that children should hasve equal treatment under the law. They should be able to participate in the political process, to be legally responsible for their choices and acts; to have privacy; to manage their education; and to decide who is to be their guardian. If we taught children the concept of freedom combined with responsibility, we would certainly see the lessening of many of the troubling scenarios facing young people today. Instead, adult society seeks to control children, and does not provide them with the proper guidance and support, it creates children who are oppressed and neglected, who then rebel against the adults who have hurt them in often unproductive and self destructive ways. If all human beings, children and adults, were accorded the same basic humanity, society could be much for the better.
We spend thousands on residential treatment facilities, detention centers, treatment programs, etc. for youth, but what if we could be pro-active, what if we could instead take these funds and invest them into what our children truly need? The money spent on residential treatment which has dubious outcomes is enormous. And at times a child is placed in such facility from a troubled family life, it makes them more of a conformist to the facilities expectations, and then returns them back to the troubled family dynamics, only to create a vicious cycle. If the children were allowed the ability to live on their own or to choose their guardian from those who may actually care for them, just think what funds which are now funneled to the psychiatric establishment could do for the advancement of children. We are speaking of around $70-100,000 per year, the child could have the best education, travel and explore, and be out of situations of poverty and oppression. But instead, the establishment would rather have its hands on these funds and it needs to keep the vicious cycle going as this is its source of profit. Keep people distressed, keep them labeled, make them "ill' and we will constantly have a flow of profits.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.DrDanEdmunds.com

The medical model misses the entire picture

A father recently came to me for a consultation in regards to his seven year old son. He began to tell me of the child's oppositionality and decline at school and left things pretty much at that. Let's say (as seems to be common practice under a medicalized model) that I left things at that and identified the child as the 'problem'. Instead, I met individually with the child who told me of his sadness that his parents fought daily and dad had destroyed objects in fits of rage. Fortunately, the father was willing to acknowledge concerns and asked for help for his entire family. But what if we chose to ignore this child's experience and the social context, only looking at the child's behavior, and this behavior as reported by one source. What outcome would be derived? What 'treatment' would be delineated?
-Dan L.Edmunds,Ed.D.
www.DrDanEdmunds.com

WHAT ARE WE DOING TO OUR CHILDREN?

What we become is a product of our thought and a product of how we choose to respond to the social and political processes at work daily in our lives, from our very birth. The young child begins to learn what responses to give that will gain him or her attention, affection, or approval. The family is the cauldron of our being. Often what we see, we become. Aggression breeds aggression. Lies creates liars. Lack of regard for the child leads to the child have a lack of empathy for others. Poor familial boundaries leads to the child haivng poor boundaries in regards to others. How do some families evoke such violence upon their own children? We live in a society where children are committing the crimes of adults, where children are rapidly entering the world of adults but lack the growth and maturity to be fully responsible and understanding. Because of societal pressures, adults are abandoning their children, and children are thrown into a brutal quest for survival. They are exposed to the corrupt world of adults. Parental egoism and desire for self gratification become passed down to the children. Families shrouded in secrecy and denial are often the most destructive upon the minds of children. This becomes the breeding ground for the most vile of thought and action. These are the families who make lofe about control- 'do as I say but not as I do, do this because I love you". The child has no clear direction. They then begin to seek to break from their painful reality. They are fearful, possibly mre fearful of living than of death. These children because of what they have seen and heard become persons as well who seek to use power, domination, and manipulation upon others. These are the children who become offenders. The mechanical world we exist within, where those who are not of the elite must struggle day by day leads to children being cast aside. The mechanical mentality has infected all institutions. Schools are no longer about learning but conformity, where students produce desired results for their teachers. We are creating frustrated families and frustrated children. This frustration has now built to the level of rage. This rage is destroying the minds of our children. This rage leads to violence and conflict. Is there a way out? Is there another way? It requires us to evaluate our responses. Life is suffering, all are presented with problems, this we cannot escape. But we can chose how to address our problems. If persons begin to lay aside the pain and hurt, and can build resiliency against the violence said to be 'love', if we can become survivors rather than victims, we stand a chance. If society and families can re-evaluate its values and principles, there is a chance. Many times a child is helped by having a helping person journey with them. We cannot do this alone, we must have others to journey with us. We need the restoration of a sense of community, of our inter-connectedness. There are no easy solutions. Sadly, the battle for the 'soul' of our children will mean some will be saved, and some will remain lost. But if even one child can be saved from the pit of self destruction, the efforts of time, compassion, and wisdom will be well worth it. In a world so rife with despair, it is so easy for us to fall into the same traps. Let us guard our minds, let us strive for social justice, and not give up hope that even in our small way, we can make a difference.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.DrDanEdmunds.com

disintegration of community

One of the significant problems in today's society is our lack of realizing our interconnectedness, our lack of community. We become so hurried, so engrossed in our activity, that we do not know or acknowledge or neighbor. We have become alienated and absorbed into ourselves and our own interests and objectives. No longer do we come together for common purposes, rarely do we share in common interests and vision. This is to our own destruction.

Sometimes caring is not enough

I have realized that showing caring and compassion are sometimes not enough. As I mentioned in my article on True Friendship, there must be a test to see if the friendship will endure and in my article Journey Through Madness, I commented on the fact that many who are so emotionally hurt trust noone and sincerity is questioned. I recall a therapeutic alliance with a 14 year old man. Though we built a strong connection, because of his immense hurts, familial turmoil, and victimization, he had difficulty trusting. He had moments of progress, but then would continue in self loathing and self destructive behavior. It was hard for him to accept that anyone might actually love him. It was easier to make others fear him, he had to dominate to feel any security. Unfortunately, he encountered the juvenile justice system, a painful experience for him, his family, and myself. But it was at this point that he came to the realization of my sincerity and that I did really care. Before, he had put his energy into superficial relationships. What is unfortunate, that none of these individuals have any concern for him now or even speak of him. He was blind to see where caring could be really found. It is unfortunate that it has taken extreme crisis for him to realize who his friends really are. It is my hope that this realization will carry him through the difficult path that lies ahead.
-Dan L.Edmunds,Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.info

REACHING OUR TROUBLED CHILDREN

A society can be judged by how it treats its children, even those most troubled and disturbed. Many choose to 'throw away' those children who are deemed delinquent. But how did they become that way? It is not just their choices but it is also the failure of adults in their lives to truly reach out and guide these children. Court systems, Child Protective services, and our educational systems fail these children time and time again. They are shuffled off to placements and through psychiatric ceremonials only to become more bitter, more hardened, more distressed, and more disturbed. They sentence them to a spiritual death. We should be investing our time to teach new skills, to change the frame of reference, to show compassion and wisdom. We must have patience and journey with these children, to know that someone truly cares and that their pains and hurts need not be self destructive. But the issue remains greed. It is profitable to keep the status quo, the psychiatric establishment profits and so do others. No one wants to take the time to bother with these children, few are interested in social justice, few want to give the things that would truly rehabilitate.
I hope that there will be those who will wage a non violent resistance and to once again make our children a priority. We live in a society where there must always be winners and losers, it impacts every aspect of how we conduct ourselves, in courts, in politics, in business. If only we can regain a sense of our common humanity, and be able to develop concern for others, even the most troubled. We are creating the monsters by our failure to meet the true needs of our children, we are contributing to their demise. Hopefully we will soon awaken to this and make the important changes.

-Dan L.Edmunds,Ed.D.
www.DrDanEdmunds.com

I placed my hope in you, I sought your liberation. Shattered. Broken. Lost. You could not respond. I loved you. I still do. But you did not know until it was too late. I embrace you and the tears flow. I know you, but you do not know youself. You wanted control. How out of control things are. Let go. Let go of the pain, the rage, I am with you, know this, if it be your only solace. The torment to me and to you. It will pass, don't give up.I believe in you, you will overcome. Namaste.

The Gift of Trust, Love, and Hope

I had the privilege of working with a young man who had experienced much turmoil in his life. From early on, we connected, and over time this bond became stronger. Family sessions were often difficult and challenging, but one on one he would share with me his pain, his dark secrets, his sorrows. He had been abandoned by his father, sexually abused by a peer at age 7, witness to a suicide attempt of his mother, and having a conflictual relationship with his step-father. He had little love in his life to the point where he had no love for himself either. He began to loathe himself and be filled with rage. I sought to be loving but firm, and to steer him towards finding meaning and of resolving conflicts in his life. We had a strong relationship, we could joke together but also share more serious reflections. However, I knew that because he had been so hurt and broken, that he was not fully trusting anyone and he was constantly being sucked into the vortex of negative peer associations and familial dysfunction. I'm spite of this, he progressed, even to the point discharge was discussed by the psychologist. But then came the series of unfortunate events. I noticed him struggling again and isolating. He then had an incident where he was caught unclothed with his younger sibling. I suspected he had been abused again by a peer, but he was not able to develop the courage to relate this until much later. He persisted in some negative actions at school, using domination of others as a way to regain control and his feelings of worth. There was another incident of sexual acting out and this brought charges. I hjad predicted sadly that if better choices were not made that legal ramifications would come and there would be a day where all decisions would be out of his hands, out of his parents, and out of mine. The State became involved. Not understanding my connection to the young man, and wanting everything sterile and clinical, as well as having political machinations, they chastised me for being real and genuine and actually treating this young man as a human being. They had their agenda and decided to proceed. It was not that I did not understand that he needed additional support and help, it was that I was concerned if he felt alone and had no spiritual connection, he would only become more hardened and fall into despair. The young man pleaded with me not to abandon him, and I said I would not. He told me that he wished he would have followed what I said, but he could never trust anyone, but now he knows that I truly cared about him, but he felt it was too late. I had given him a word that means 'I see the love, truth, and divine in you.' He said this word to me as he remembered it. When I exained it meaning, he wept. Now I am left to only hope for the best in an absurd situation, to hope for the best in a system not knowing compassion, not knowing persons, so filled with ego. His mother's words were very meaningful to me in that she said- 'you did not fail, you gave him more than anyone ever did- you gave him trust, hope, and love.' This I did and would do again and again even though the pain has been great. And if any dare say that what I gifted this child with was 'unprofessional', then I must question their heart. It is indeed a great misfortune that those who claim to be in the field of protecting children are so beguiled by greed and corruption, that they lose sight of how to truly reach our children, even the most troubled ones, and deal with them in compassionate, rehabilitative means.

-Dan L. Edmunds,Ed.D.
www.humanepsychiatry.info

PATIENT ACCEPTANCE, UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, AND COMPASSION

Sometimes it is difficult to accept things as they are, to come to a patient acceptance. I have looked at the role of the 'bodhisattva', one who postpones their own enlightenment and happiness, to compassionately help liberate others. I am convinced that providing unconditional love and compassion heals much. It is the opening to the door of liberation from distress and deluded minds. Pain and turmoil can only cease by knowing unconditional love, of feeling that someone understands, that no matter how bad things are or have been, we can overcome. I think of the term 'namaste', that we are all inter-connected, and we can join our hearts together, and that there exists within all beings the potential, the seed of goodness and light. It is this unconditional love and compassion that waters this seed and helps it to grow. I think of the lotus, a beautiful flower blossoming from the muck, such a symbol of our world, that from despair, hopelessness, and sufferings, can blossom forth goodness and inner peace.

-Dan L. Edmunds, Ed.D.
www.DrDanEdmunds.com