TROUBLED KIDS

The identity of a child is very much overshadowed by that of his parents; indeed, growth and development is the process of emerging from this inevitable domination. A young child mirrors the state of mind of his parents. His behavior is an accurate and sensitive reflection of their character. It is surely a sad perpetuation of their maladjustments to subject the “disturbed” child to further professional domination without first giving full consideration to conditions in the home. One wonders if professional treatment of such a child is really a method of drawing out the cause of the disturbance or merely further pressure to drive the symptoms deeper into the personality. The latter consequence is, without question, the path to neurosis or worse.

LARRY CALLAHAN

El Segundo