Dr. Sojack’s clinical philosophy is early intervention and treating the “whole child.” Psychotherapy, medications when indicated, family involvement, teachers, coaches, Church, clubs, and any other meaningful influence are included in the child’s treatment plan. A treatment plan is far more effective when it knits together all aspects
of a child’s life.

This method of clinical psychotherapy is dynamic. It is always moving forward, and making progress toward lessening the depression and reducing the suicidal thinking. This approach makes continual adjustments to incorporate the success the child is making and new information that is generated in the psychotherapy sessions.

A common mistake in working with adolescents is sticking with the therapy plan made from the initial diagnosis. This is appropriate for adults, but not for kids. Teenagers are very changeable, and the initial assessment and even the diagnosis might not be complete or even accurate. The doctor must be a very careful listener. You never know when the child will reveal new information that will lead the therapy in a new direction.

Kids sometimes speak in code, or express themselves paradoxically. Sometimes they assume that the doctor already knows what they haven’t said. This is another reason that makes working with high school kids so challenging. You have to listen to everying they say, and also be “listening” to what they don’t say. At the end of every session, I always ask the child, “Do you think the last two hours were helpful, are we going in the right direction?” I encourage the child to speak freely, so that they feel that they are in control of their therapy.

This is important because kids who are experiencing depression are already feeling out of control. These kids desperately want to re-establish a sense of control and mastery in their life. I make sure that I make at least one comment in each session that will increase the child’s self esteem, and one comment that will increase their sense of hope.