The Treatment Journey is “Clear as Mud”

When inquiring my services, parents are often wanting a clearly laid out path.  The reality is, I just cannot give them what they’re looking for.  I can hypothesize, or broadly speak to “typical” treatment paths, but that’s not what they want.  Parents and young adults often want to know the exact number of days they’ll be in treatment.  Where they’ll be in treatment, and what the weather does while they’re there.  They also want to know what to expect once they get there.  Will they be recommended aftercare?  If yes, what will that look like for timeline, location, and milieu?  These questions just remind that the family wants to have as much understanding and control over the outcome ahead.  All I can do is listen and paint a picture of the possibilities.  This isn’t enough for some families.

Growing up in a Southern state, sarcasm was my second language.  Professionally, I am never sarcastic with my clients.  I work with highly emotional and dysregulated family systems, and there is just zero room for sarcasm during a time of crisis.  Occasionally I’ll throw in some light humor, but only after working closely with the family for an extended period and when they’re loved one is stable and thriving.  Where I marry my childhood language with my current work, is by inserting old expressions.

I specifically love using the saying clear as mud.

When I type that express in online, this is what pops up:

Murky, obscure, totally unclear, as in The translation of these directions is clear as mud. This ironic phrase always indicates that something is far from clear.*

In reading this, it just makes me chuckle. In treatment, little is clear or certain.  The notion that the journey through treatment is “clear as mud” just makes the uncertainty of it all a little more lighthearted.  What’s ahead is obscure, and everyone person’s journey is very different.  I don’t want to convey this idea that it’s completely unknown, just that there is a strong possibility that we won’t see what’s ahead until we have a better grasp and accurate clinical recommendations.  Providing a sense of relief, as best I can, is all I can do.

For questions or comments contact Joanna.