depression when she got out of treatment, even though it had been discussed. On her own, she looked for a class and signed up for it. It was called "Shame, Guilt, and Anger: An Introduction for Women." It was a beginning class in identifying feelings and learning some assertiveness skills. It wasn't therapy, it was a
class,
with slow explanations and handouts and role-playing. Rachel seemed more able to learn from this class than from group therapy. Looking back, it seems to me that her learning disabilities have interfered with her ability to process information in discussion group settings. She does better one-to-one with a therapist or with a basic class. If your child is having trouble understanding all the relationships between these feelings, consider whether the information can be given in a more understandable way. Research all the resources in your community to find those that best meet your child's needs.
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Learning about feelings is one of the necessary steps in dealing with depression. It's equally important for the child to make a commitment to self-care: a structure, a routine, a list of acceptable behaviors. Certain behaviors are
mandatory,
as Barbara, Rachel's therapist, said, "So you don't go down so fast."
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