The latest episode of the Becoming Centered Podcast, Episode 74, explores three factors that blend together to create a treatment environment in a residential treatment program.  The first factor is the way in which various Care activities are organized.  For example, this episode compares feeding kids cafeteria-style versus family-style and looks at some aspects of how household chores are implemented.  The second factor is how residential counselors instill beliefs in kids that support treatment.  Some of these beliefs are more general, such as understanding that when a person becomes increasingly emotionally upset, that person’s ability to think and to use words degrades.  Other beliefs are specific to the value of exercising and practicing executive skills.  For example, believing that it’s a good idea to have a plan in anticipation of various social and task challenges.  The third factor is how residential counselors prompt kids to have to practice and exercise their executive and social skills instead of just giving kids simple orders and directives.  It’s these sorts of practices that elevate direct care staff from being Caregivers to being Counselors.