Treat kids without drugs

HE has been called the Finnish Dr Phil, and he is coming to our region in June.

Dr Ben Furman, psychiatrist from Finland, registered trainer-psychotherapist, co-director of Helsinki Brief Therapy Institute and author, will deliver his Strengths Based parenting program over three days from June 16 to 18.

Concerned that more and more children were being diagnosed with mental disturbances, and from the diagnosis the leap to medication was small, Dr Furman believes his program offers other solutions for struggling parents.

“All over the world the amount of children that are medicated is skyrocketing.”

He said in the United States, where trends started and were followed by other countries, it was not uncommon for five-year-old children to be using more than one psychiatric drug.

“I don’t want to paint the devil on the wall but I do think that parents can benefit from having a chance to meet up and talk with other parents while being inspired by some good ideas of how to manage their kids – and their partners – with some positive and creative ways.”

Dr Furman said the program was based on his popular book Kids’ Skills, described as groundbreaking and a refreshing way to re-describe children who others have identified as having serious problems.