Treating the Child, Healing the Family

When Sonig Schiller’s 11-year-old daughter, Sadie, was first diagnosed with anxiety, depression, suicidal ideation, and disordered eating, she learned a child’s psychiatric disorder affects the whole family.

“I was scared. I was frustrated. At times I was angry,” recalls Sonig. “We were brand new to this mental health world and it was really frightening at first.”

After inpatient stays at Bradley Hospital and outpatient therapy, Sadie improved greatly. But to heal the family, they began attending Bradley’s Psychoeducational Psychotherapy (PEP) Parent Therapy Group, led by clinical psychologist Kerri Kim, PhD. The group provides support for the parents of children who have a mood disorder, and education on symptoms, treatments, and strategies for managing children's behavior. It also teaches self-care and coping strategies for the parents.

“Parents are essential to a child’s treatment,” Dr. Kim says.

“Parents are there on the frontlines doing the work, day to day.” The parents meet on Zoom for an hour weekly, with each session focusing on a different topic, such as problem solving. The parents even have homework—testing out the strategies and reflecting on how they work.

Sonig most appreciated being able to connect with other parents who could relate to her family’s struggle. “It provided me with a safe and comfortable space to share and talk,” she says. “To be able to share stories, advice, and the roller coaster of emotions was really special and important.”

The group also aims to dispel judgment and stigma around mental health struggles, since mood disorders are biological illnesses. The PEP motto is: “It’s not your fault, but it’s your challenge.” Sonig agrees. “Through the group, I realized that things might pop up again for my daughter in the future. Now I have the tools to handle them.”